Taipei- Having failed to reach its target of receiving 4 million foreign visitors in 2008, Taiwan plans to reach that target by the end of 2009, an official said Friday.

In 2008, Taiwan received 3.84 million foreign visitors.

Of the total, 1.77 million were tourists, up 7.69 per cent from 2007, while 881,431 were business visitors, down 5.3 per cent from 2007, Janice Lai, director of the Tourism Bureau, said.

The remainder were foreigners entering Taiwan to work, study or for reunite with their families.

The drop in the number of business visitors, caused by the global financial crisis, marks the biggest decline in five years, Lai said.

Lai said Taiwan would use incentives to boost the number of foreign visitors, including giving business visitors discounts on public transport, visits to hot springs and tourists facilities.

The island is also pinning its hopes on the expected influx of Chinese tourists following the launch of daily charter flights across the Taiwan Strait on December 15, 2008, and plans to start regular flights in July. (dpa)