To entice tourists to lengthen their stays, the government has decided to extend visa-free entry privileges from 14 days to 30 days for citizens of more than 20 countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.
However, travel agents expressed skepticism that the move will help reach the government's goal of doubling the number of overseas visitors by 2008.
The newly installed 30-day visa-free entry privilege will take effect May 1.
The initiative has also taken into account of the fact that neighboring countries also generally keep to a 30-day visa-free policy, the ministry said.
According to regulations stipulated in the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
But local travel agents held mixed views on the new scheme, with some saying the best way to attract tourists to the country was to put emphasis on improving infrastructures in major sightseeing spots.
Hong Chi-feng (洪祈逢), general manager of New Sunshine Travel Agency, poured cold water on the new initiative, saying he didn't think the new program would increase number of tourists.
"I don't think it'll work. The original 14-day visa-free arrangement is enough because tourists normally come here for up to four or five days," said Hong, who has been a travel agent for more than three decades.
Hong said he's confused by the government's intention behind the new scheme, while suggesting the best way to boost local tourism is to improve related infrastructure in major tourist sites.
That would, he argues, encourage them to stay longer than a few days.
"For example, the Lungshan Temple is supposedly a major tourist site, but it is seen as rather dirty and its surroundings are considered chaotic," Hong said.
Why didn't the government brainstorm on ways to improve that?" he said.
Chang Ya-hsou (
"I'm not against the new policy as long as it can boost the tourism market more or less," Chang said.
Business travelers and backpackers intending to stay for less than 30 days may find the scheme especially enticing, she added.
The foreign ministry and the Ministry of the Interior cooperated on the new plan, according to a press release from the foreign ministry.
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