TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Tourism Administration (觀光署) has listed 46 travel agencies that have either self-reported or been notified by authorities of their cessation of operations, according to a report published Monday (Jan. 26). Travel agency Rainbow (彩虹國際旅行社) is among those affected, as financial difficulties forced the company to suspend its operations for three months starting Thursday (Jan. 16). The closures come as Taiwan's travel industry faces mounting economic pressures.
Rainbow, established in 1997, specialized in tours to Penghu, a popular Taiwanese island destination, and earned the Travel Quality Assurance Association's (中華民國旅行業品質保障協會) Gold Travel Itinerary Award in 2013. A Jan. 7 announcement by the Tourism Administration revealed that by Dec. 31, 2025, nine agencies had their bonds seized or executed. The bond seizures indicate severe financial distress among the affected companies.
Among the agencies with seized bonds are Shih Hang Travel Agency (世航旅行社) and Chao Gui Travel Agency (朝桂旅行社), according to the Tourism Administration. The Tuesday (Jan. 7) announcement also included the list of 46 agencies that reported or were notified of their closure, featuring Chiang Shan Travel Agency (江山旅行社) and Hsin Feng Travel Agency (信鋒旅行社). The closures affect agencies across various regions of Taiwan.
The ongoing struggles of these agencies reflect broader economic pressures facing Taiwan's travel sector, even as the Lunar New Year, Taiwan's most important annual holiday, peak travel season unfolds. The Tourism Administration continues to monitor and report on these developments, and stakeholders in the industry may need to consider strategic adaptations to sustain their operations. ◼