By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — The 2026 Kaohsiung Wonderland festival (2026 高雄冬日遊樂園) concluded Sunday, March 1, after attracting 7.31 million visits and generating over NT$12.6 billion in “tourism output” — or “觀光產值,” referring to the total economic value generated by visitor spending during the event — according to the Kaohsiung City Tourism Department (高雄市政府觀光局).
The event, which opened Feb. 7, coincided with both the Lunar New Year holiday and the Feb. 28 Peace Memorial Day (二二八和平紀念日). Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin (高閔琳) stated that visitors from outside the city represented more than 40% of the total attendance, a figure that climbed above 50% during the Lunar New Year period.
Data from the department indicated that the influx of tourists significantly increased revenue for local hospitality and retail sectors. During the Lunar New Year, hotel occupancy across the city averaged 80%, with several downtown establishments reaching full capacity. Businesses located near Love River Bay (愛河灣), Yancheng (鹽埕), and the Pier-2 Art Center (駁二藝術特區) reported weekend revenue gains of 30% to 50% compared to typical weekdays.
The festival also drove record-breaking figures for local public transit. Mass Rapid Transit (高雄捷運) recorded over 1.39 million passengers during the five-day Lunar New Year holiday, peaking at 325,000 riders on the third day. Simultaneously, the Light Rail (高雄輕軌) set a single-day Lunar New Year record with 99,005 passengers.
The Tourism Department attributed the success of the event to cross-sector collaboration involving harbor-side infrastructure and themed character displays, specifically citing Ultraman-themed inflatables. Officials noted that this integrated approach to urban landscaping and popular culture will serve as a model for future tourism initiatives.
