A proposal to extend the number of days Chinese tourists are allowed to stay in Taiwan has been put on hold because of security concerns raised by an opposition lawmaker, the National Immigration Agency said on Tuesday.
The agency on Aug. 11 announced partial amendments to The Regulation Governing the Approval of People of the Mainland Area Visiting Taiwan for Purposes of Tourism (大陸地區人民來台從事觀光活動許可辦法) that would allow individual Chinese tourists in good standing to stay for 30 days on their second visit to the nation — an extension from the 15 days they are allowed to spend on their first visit.
However, Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Chou Ni-an (周倪安) told a press conference that day that 15 days are a sufficiently adequate time for a tourist to spend in Taiwan.
Agency official Tsao Ku-ling (曹顧齡) responded that the proposed relaxation was based on demand from tourism operators and was expected to improve the quality of tour packages for Chinese visitors as well as boost the tourism industry’s development.
However, in light of the opposition, Tsao said the agency would put the proposal on hold and review it cautiously.
According to a special project established this year by the agency and police to track Chinese tourists who go missing in Taiwan, the nation’s security mechanism has proved effective, as the number of Chinese overstaying their visas declined from 3,443 last year to 2,665 at the end of June.
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