The 11 millionth tourist to visit Taiwan in2018 is a Japanese tourist. He arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on a flight from Kansai International Airport on Sunday.
Shinobu Nishikawa, a doctor from Nara, received an unexpected grand welcome from the Tourism Bureau.
The bureau gifted Nishikawa two free air tickets to the destination of his choice, a three-day travel pass for Taiwan’s high-speed rail, free accommodation at five-star hotels in Taipei, Hualien, Taitung and Kaohsiung, among other perks.
It was the first time that Taiwan has received 11 million overseas visitors in a single year, after coming close in 2017 and 2016. Taiwan broke the 10 million-visitor barrier for the first time in 2015.
Nishikawa says this is his fifth time visiting Taiwan, the third time for his family.