By RK Shih/Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Japan was the largest source of visitors to Taiwan in 2025, accounting for 17.3% of total arrivals, as overall inbound tourism rose 9.1% year-on-year, according to data released by the Ministry of the Interior and reported by CNA.
Taiwan welcomed more than 8.57 million international visitors last year. Travelers from Hong Kong and Macau made up 15.3% of arrivals, followed by South Korea (11.9%), the United States (8.3%), and China (7.4%). Among major markets, arrivals from China showed the fastest growth, rising 45.4% compared with 2024, while Malaysian visitor numbers declined.
While Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport remained the primary entry point, handling over 75% of all passenger traffic, Kaohsiung International Airport recorded the strongest growth among Taiwan’s major airports. Passenger volume at Kaohsiung reached 5.727 million in 2025, up 23.3% from the previous year.
Total cross-border travel reached 27.46 million arrivals and 27.40 million departures. Taiwanese travelers accounted for nearly 70% of all cross-border movements, with foreign nationals making up about 24%.
Outbound travel also increased, with nearly 18.94 million Taiwanese traveling overseas. Japan remained the most popular destination, accounting for 35.5% of trips, followed by China (17.1%) and South Korea (9.7%).
Source: Central News Agency (CNA), Ministry of the Interior data
