TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tokyo remained the top overseas destination for Taiwan travelers last year, while Seoul moved ahead of Osaka for the first time, highlighting a shift in regional travel preferences.
Air ticket data for 2025 placed Tokyo, Seoul, and Osaka as the three most popular destinations, followed by Okinawa, Hong Kong, and Busan, with Japanese cities accounting for four of the top 10 spots and ticket sales to Japan rising 64%, according to ezTravel, per CNA.
Travel to South Korea showed even faster growth, with bookings doubling over the year. Seoul climbed into second place, and Busan also moved up the rankings. Industry analysts attributed the rise in Korea travel plans to relatively affordable flights and accommodation, along with the pull of Korean pop culture and medical tourism, per the report.
Long-haul travel also gained traction, with Los Angeles, Sydney, and Melbourne leading the list. Australia and New Zealand together placed four destinations in the top 10 and recorded a 52% increase in ticket sales, indicating renewed interest in those markets.
Lion Travel said the outbound market is likely to expand further in 2026. Early-year booking data show notable increases across Northeast Asia and Oceania, while routes to the US and Canada are seeing even stronger gains, rising by about 40% compared with a year earlier.
The company said travelers are increasingly split between taking quicks more often to nearby destinations and longer itineraries lasting more than a week. It also noted a rise in trips centered on sports events and other themed experiences.
AloJapan.com