This destination's 'unique' food and natural beauty is winning over Aussies
Taiwan is increasingly attracting Australian travellers seeking unique culinary experiences and natural beauty, with food playing a central role in drawing visitors. The shift from group tourism to independent travel has reshaped the tourism landscape, especially after a decline in Chinese visitors. Australians are discovering Taiwan's diverse cultural influences, from Indigenous and Japanese to Dutch, through its distinctive cuisine and scenic regions.
- ▪Australians like Michelle Knox and Jessie Goldie are drawn to Taiwan for its unique food, including pepper pork buns, stinky tofu, and beef noodle soup.
- ▪Tourism from Australia exceeded 120,000 visitors in 2025, part of a broader 10% growth in foreign arrivals following visa-free access for Australians.
- ▪Taiwan's cuisine reflects a blend of Fujianese, Japanese, Indigenous, and European influences, with regional variations such as the sweet flavours in the south linked to Dutch-era sugar production.
- ▪Chinese tourist numbers have dropped significantly since 2016 due to tightened visa policies, leading to a rise in independent travellers from countries like Australia and Japan.
- ▪Recent diplomatic gestures, such as a visit by Taiwan opposition figure Cheng Li-wun to Beijing, have raised hopes for improved cross-strait relations and potential tourism recovery, though experts remain cautious.
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Why Taiwan is becoming a hotspot for Australian travellersBy Libby HoganTopic:Travel and Tourism6m ago6 minutes agoFri 1 May 2026 at 9:00pmJessie Goldie is among those finding undiscovered gems in Taiwan's south. (Supplied: Jessie Goldie)abc.net.au/news/australians-travelling-to-taiwan-new-tourism-wave/106622154Link copiedShareShare article"You must try the pepper pork buns at the night market," said Michelle Knox, an Aussie tourist from Umina Beach."The shaved ice peanut and ice cream roll with a dash of coriander — that was a real combo," she added."And the stinky tofu is not as pungent as durian. The fried stuff is quite nice," she laughed.
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