Taiwan is looking to strengthen its appeal among Indian outbound travellers by positioning the island as a gateway to multi-destination fly-cruise holidays across Northeast Asia. With cruise itineraries offering opportunities to explore Taiwan alongside destinations in Japan and South Korea, and EVA Air’s upcoming direct Delhi-Taipei service from December 1, 2026, the destination is seeking to create new opportunities for Indian travel companies to develop distinctive international holiday products.
For Indian travel advisors and tour operators, this creates an opportunity to expand beyond conventional single-destination holidays and introduce fly-cruise packages tailored to families, couples and other experience seeking premium travellers. Whereas, travellers can potentially combine time exploring Taiwan’s cultural attractions, vibrant cities, culinary experiences and natural landscapes with a cruise holiday that brings multiple destinations within a single itinerary.
According to Paul Shih, Director – TTA, Singapore Office, “India is an important market with significant untapped potential for Taiwan, and we see an exciting opportunity to develop new travel products that respond to the evolving interests of Indian travellers. Cruise tourism can introduce visitors to Taiwan while offering the opportunity to discover other destinations across Northeast Asia in one holiday. With EVA Air’s direct Taipei-Delhi service commencing in December, we are keen to work with our airline, cruise and travel trade partners to make Taiwan more accessible and strengthen its position as both a destination in its own right and a gateway to wider regional experiences.”
Shih also pointed that cruise tourism offers destinations opportunities to generate economic value beyond the immediate passenger visit. Citing WTTC’s (World Travel & Tourism Council) ‘Cruising for Impact’ report, he pointed that cruise-related expenditure supports a wider tourism ecosystem encompassing local businesses, tour operators, transport providers, restaurants, retailers and artisans. The report also cites Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) data indicating that more than 60% of cruise passengers return to destinations they first discovered through a cruise.
Against these backdrops, he pointed why TTA is looking to build closer collaboration between airlines, cruise operators and the Indian travel trade to translate growing market interest into new travel products and visitor demand.
Speaking of the evolving opportunity, Naresh Rawal, Senior Vice President – India & Middle East, StarDream Cruises, said, “India represents a significant growth opportunity for the global cruise industry, with an increasingly experience-driven outbound travel market and growing demand for distinctive international holidays. The launch of direct flights between Delhi and Taipei by EVA Air creates an exciting opportunity to develop Taiwan as a gateway for Indian fly-cruise travellers. With the ability to combine a holiday in Taiwan with multi-country cruise itineraries across Northeast Asia, including Japan and South Korea, Taiwan can offer Indian travellers a compelling combination of destination experiences and the convenience of discovering several countries in a single holiday.”
EVA Air’s Delhi-Taipei route, scheduled to commence operations on December 1, 2026, will provide Indian travellers with a non-stop option to reach Taiwan. Beyond making Taiwan more accessible, the service offers an opportunity for the travel trade to explore new combinations of air travel, destination stays and cruise departures.
The cruise-focused opportunity formed part of TTA’s recent tourism promotion event in New Delhi, which brought together Indian travel industry representatives and media to showcase Taiwan’s diverse tourism offerings and explore opportunities for closer industry cooperation. Six supplier partners participated in the roadshow, comprising four Taiwanese destination management companies (DMCs), StarDream Cruises and EVA Air.
Complementing the destination’s wider visitor proposition, TTA also offers a complimentary half-day transit tour service for eligible international travellers. Depending on their connecting flight schedules and applicable entry and transit requirements, passengers may choose guided bus tours or explore independently, experiencing local culture, distinctive neighbourhoods and Taiwanese cuisine during their time in transit.
