According to the latest stats from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, we are expected to have 6.5 million visitors this year, breaking our past records. As for those who are looking to fly out of the island, travel agencies are now promoting tours to China and Southeast Asian countries instead of Japan.

Tourists from all over the world watch the changing of the guard ceremony at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall with great interest.

According to Bureau of Tourism statistics, a record 220,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Taiwan in the first two months of the year alone.

The number of total tourists to Taiwan in January and February reached a new high as well of 850,000, or 15,000 per day.

However, the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Taiwan's tourism industry has been significant, and many hotels and travel agencies that cater to Japanese tourists are now focusing on the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

Travel agencies say that while the number of tourists to Taiwan continues to climb, the trend has not been reflected in sales.

At the same time, the Japanese tourism market isn't expected to start recovering until the second half of the year.

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