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Beijing establishes agency to handle travel to Taiwan

The Straits Travel Agency, a newly set up office founded by the Taiwan Affairs Office under Beijing's State Council, is said to be an exclusive body in charge of Taiwan-bound tourism.

It was learned that Beijing officials have been paying close attention to travel by its citizens to Taiwan for leisure trips since Taiwan relaxed restrictions late last year to allow people from China to travel, trade and teach in Taiwan.

Sources from China reported yesterday that the official Straits Travel Agency will contract nine Chinese travel agencies to serve Taiwan-bound tourists, whose numbers are expected to top 500,000 annually.

The Straits Travel Agency is also poised to replace the China Travel Agency, Beijing's existing official body in charge of issuing documents to Taiwan residents for travel to China for a wide variety of purposes, it was reported.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's General Chamber of Commerce yesterday urged the government to clarify its policy on opening up to Chinese visitors so as to allow Taiwan businesses to prepare for the potentially lucrative market.

The chamber called for the government not to impose age restrictions on Taiwan-bound tourists from China, and to upgrade service quality by accelerating training of local guides and travel agency personnel, as well as to designate Taipei's Sungshan Airport as the selected airport handling direct flights between Taiwan and cities in China.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) announced on Oct. 20 that visitors from China will be able to take leisure trips to Taiwan beginning in June as part of the government's efforts to address the cross-strait impasse.

In the wake of the announcement, leaders in Taiwan's tourism sector have expressed hope that the government will quickly work out relevant regulations on the market opening so as to allow them to act accordingly.

Taiwan is the most popular holiday destination for Chinese citizens who have the opportunity to travel abroad, according to a recent survey in Beijing.
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