By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Crowds turned out at the Kaohsiung Arena on Friday as a spring travel fair and an AI smart home appliance expo opened simultaneously on the first day of the 228 Peace Memorial Day holiday.
Long lines formed early in the morning as visitors sought travel discounts for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Major travel agencies are promoting special deals, with discounted outbound packages to Japan, South Korea, and Europe, among the most popular offers. Industry representatives cited the weak Japanese yen and strong domestic economic growth as key factors driving record overseas travel demand this year.
Promotional fares included Tokyo and Osaka packages starting from NT$15,900 per person, and trips to Seoul starting from NT$12,900. Cruise promotions were also highlighted, including upcoming MSC Bellissima sailings departing from Kaohsiung Port in March.
Running alongside the travel fair, the AI Smart Home Appliance and Air Conditioning Expo featured 22 major brands is drawing strong interest from consumers seeking energy-saving upgrades supported by government subsidy programs. Manufacturers offered aggressive discounts and bundled incentives, including vouchers and trade-in rebates.
Organizers said the dual exhibitions, which run through March 2, are expected to boost holiday foot traffic and stimulate both tourism spending and household consumption during the long weekend.
