Taiwan tourism office launches expat-led travel series for North Americans

The Taiwan Tourism Administration in Los Angeles is rolling out the Share My Taiwan Expat Series to turn long-term expats’ local knowledge into bookable trips for North American travelers. The launch includes a five-day cycling itinerary, a coming lineup of cultural experiences, and a return-visitor incentive program tied to travel through March 31, 2027.

Why it matters: - Taiwan is packaging travel experiences around the lived perspective of expats, not just standard sightseeing. - The approach aims to help North American travelers discover more local food, culture, and places that typical itineraries miss. - Taiwan is also using a cash-value incentive to encourage repeat visits.

What happened: - The Taiwan Tourism Administration, Los Angeles, launched the Share My Taiwan Expat Series for North American travelers. - The series turns recommendations from long-term Taiwan expats into curated, bookable journeys. - The first offering is Ride Taiwan Deep, a five-day cycling trip along Taiwan’s west coast. - The Taiwan Tourism Administration said a second Ride Taiwan Deep departure will run in November after a positive response to the inaugural October tour. - Travelers can learn more at Ride Taiwan Deep on Get Me to Taiwan. - The 15th annual Taiwan KOM Challenge takes place November 1–2, with registration open now. - The Taiwan Tourism Administration is also promoting a return-traveler drawing for visits from October 10, 2026, through March 31, 2027.

The details: - Ride Taiwan Deep is designed for intermediate cyclists. - The itinerary includes scenic routes, local food, cultural stops, historic communities, and lesser-known places along the west coast. - Logan Beck, a longtime American expat and cyclist living in Taiwan, helped shape the route using his knowledge of Taiwan’s cycling communities and trails. - Gabriel Farmer, a North American endurance cyclist and fitness professional, joined Beck on the ride and experienced Taiwan as a first-time international visitor. - The Taiwan Tourism Administration said the two riders offer two perspectives on the same journey: one from an expat who lives in Taiwan and one from a North American visitor. - Travelers can follow the agency’s official Instagram account, @taiwantourism.na, for more ride updates and discoveries. - The next phase of the expat series will expand beyond cycling into other parts of Taiwan life and culture. - Planned themes include a traditional Taiwanese breakfast, tea-infused mocktails, wet markets, and open-air arts and crafts gatherings. - Eligible returning independent travelers visiting Taiwan from October 10, 2026, through March 31, 2027, can enter a drawing for NT$5,000 in spending credits. - An accompanying friend or family member may receive an additional NT$3,000, for up to NT$8,000 total during the trip. - Registration is open now, and travelers must sign up 7–90 days before arrival. - To qualify, travelers must have visited Taiwan for tourism at least once since January 1, 2023, and meet additional campaign requirements. - Complete eligibility, registration, drawing, redemption rules, and winner announcements are available on the official website. - The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. - Taiwan has three North American tourism offices in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Between the lines: - The campaign pairs storytelling with trip incentives, signaling a push to convert interest into bookings and repeat visitation. - Using expats as trip designers gives the Taiwan Tourism Administration a built-in authenticity angle for travelers who want local insight. - The cycling focus targets an active-travel segment, while the upcoming cultural experiences broaden the appeal beyond endurance tourists.

What's next: - More expat-led experiences will follow the inaugural cycling rollout. - Travelers interested in the return-visitor drawing must register before traveling and meet the eligibility rules. - The November Ride Taiwan Deep departure and the Taiwan KOM Challenge are the next near-term draw events for cyclists.