To continuously promote the characteristics of Matsu's marine tourism, the Matsu National Scenic Area Headquarter under the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (hereinafter referred to as the Matsu Headquarter) participated in the "2026 Kaohsiung International Travel Fair (KTF)" hosted by the Kaohsiung Association of Travel Agents from May 15 to 18, 2026. Under the theme "The Beauty of Matsu, Uniquely Different," the event combined marine tourism, local delicacies, specialty souvenirs, and interactive experiences to invite the public in Southern Taiwan to experience Matsu’s unique island charm.
The opening ceremony was held at 10:00 AM on May 15. In addition to distinguished guests such as Lin Kuo-hsien, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications; Tsai Tsung-yu, Chairperson of the Kaohsiung Association of Travel Agents; and Chen Yu-hsiu, Director-General of the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, representatives from travel agent associations of various counties and cities also attended. Aviation operators, including China Airlines, EVA Air, Mandarin Airlines, Air Busan, and Peach Aviation, also joined the grand event. Regarding the exhibition booths, organizations including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association provided diverse international tourism information, allowing the public to grasp the latest travel trends and discount information all at once.
This participation aims to utilize the major travel fair platform in southern Taiwan to enhance the awareness and attention of travelers from Kaohsiung and the southern region toward Matsu tourism. Furthermore, Mandarin Airlines' Kaohsiung–Matsu route has gradually developed from its initial charter flight model into scheduled flights. Starting from May 4, 2026, the scheduled flights have been expanded from one flight per week to two flights per week, demonstrating the continuously rising demand for Matsu tourism in the southern market and improving the convenience for travelers from southern Taiwan traveling to and from Matsu.
At the core of the Matsu Headquarter exhibition area, SUP (Stand Up Paddle) boarding equipment is specially set up to embody the characteristics of Matsu's marine tourism, allowing the public to directly experience the fun of marine activities. Meanwhile, local Matsu brands "Zhongnan 58" and "Matsu Yijinna Bakery" have been invited to showcase their product at the exhibition. They will bring Blue Tears special mocktails, old wine-flavored beverages, as well as specialty refreshments such as old wine rolled pastries and mussel-flavored Pea Crackers. Through the dual experience of taste buds and visuals, the rich and diverse tourism aspects of Matsu are fully displayed. During the travel fair, quiz sessions with prizes, social media check-ins, and fun interactive games will be flexibly scheduled based on crowd conditions, with two sessions held each morning and afternoon. Through a relaxed and interesting way of participation, these activities aim to increase the public's willingness to visit the booth and deepen their impression of Matsu's culture and tourism characteristics. Participants will also have the chance to win specialty gifts, such as Matsu characteristic cookies, Mazu (Goddess) figurines, Mazu blessing crystal keychains, and red yeast rice old wine flour wire noodles, making the travel fair site not only fun but also full of surprises.
The Matsu Headquarter stated that Matsu not only possesses highly distinctive tourism resources such as the Blue Tears, battlefield scenery, and Eastern Fujian villages, but also continues to build an all-season in-depth travel destination through marine tourism, religious culture, and local delicacies. Through this Kaohsiung Travel Fair, it is hoped that a more interactive and immersive booth design will allow more people to know Matsu, step into Matsu, and personally experience the unique charm of this hidden marine paradise. We sincerely invite travelers from all over the country to visit the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center from May 15 to 18 to explore the wonderful journey of "The Beauty of Matsu, Distinctive Island" together.