Central News Agency
Date: 2015-05-04        

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) The Philippines will soon launch a new online visa application system to make it easier for Taiwanese tourists to visit the Southeast Asian country to boost local tourism, the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan said Monday. In a statement, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said it will launch an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which will allow Taiwanese passport holders to apply for and obtain an entry permit to the Philippines online. The new system will be available starting July 1, it said. With the ETA system, applications and payments for the travel authorization can be done online wherever applicants are at any time, it said.

“This is one of several ground-breaking measures that the Philippines is undertaking to bring in more Taiwanese travelers to the Philippines following the announcement of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that 2015 is ‘Visit the Philippines Year,'” the statement said. It is part of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign in which various themes — including sports adventure and eco-tourism, history and culture, lifestyle and entertainment, and music and the arts — will be highlighted in a series of events.     [FULL  STORY]