Media speculation in the wake of the Economic Development Advisory Conference (EDAC) that Chinese tourists would be allowed to visit as early as September appears to have been premature.
According to officials at the Mainland Affairs Council, the possibility of an early policy change was unlikely without further discussions on the matter between the two sides of the Strait.
"We will lift the ban when both sides reach a consensus on the issue, but China has remained silent, which gives Taiwan no choice but to wait," said Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏), director of the council's research and planning department.
In addition, Beijing has asked Taiwan not to remove the ban unilaterally.
To actively promote tourism from China was one of the 36 conclusions that the EDAC's cross-strait panel reached over the weekend.
A Chinese language daily reported yesterday that Taiwan would permit tourism from China in September, and the first tour group would arrive in Taiwan in October.
Tseng Sheng-hai (
"With an eye toward the year-end elections ... Taiwan's government is likely to open up tourism from China on a trial basis in September," Tseng said.
The Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has already established regulations that would help regulate Taiwanese travel agencies handling of tourists from China.
"At least 100 Taiwan travel agencies have already begun setting up in China's major cities, including Beijing, Xiamen, Shanghai and Guangzhou," Tseng said.
According to Tseng, the agencies estimate that approximately 25 million tourists from China are wealthy enough to visit Taiwan, and the opening would help bring Taiwan's economy between US$4 to 6 billion annually.
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