A ban on cross-strait group tourism is to be lifted on March 1 next year, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said yesterday, weeks after the government put a reopening plan on hold after Beijing failed to reciprocate.
Wang was responding to a question from legislators about reports that tour operators were informed about the decision on Thursday.
The minister said that a formal announcement would be made before the Lunar New Year in February for a reopening on March 1 at the latest for Taiwanese groups traveling to China and Chinese groups traveling to Taiwan.
Photo: CNA
Asked about the change in policy, given that the government had previously said it would only allow Taiwanese tour groups to travel to China if Beijing allows tours to Taiwan, Wang said that representatives of the travel industry have made it clear that not having tours to China would significantly harm their business.
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) told legislators that the plan was in its initial stages and would be formalized following the presidential election in January.
The Mainland Affairs Council on Aug. 24 said that it aimed to resume cross-strait tourism following a 30-day preparation period, but would cap the number of group travelers going in either direction at 2,000 per day in the initial phase.
When cross-strait tourism could resume would depend largely on China’s response to the policy, the council said at the time.
However, without a formal response from Beijing, Wang on Oct. 16 said that the plan would be suspended and revisited in the new year.
Travel Agents’ Association chairman Hsiao Po-jen (蕭博仁) yesterday said that based on his talks with a former government official, the ban might be lifted earlier depending on China’s response.
Tour operators have been informed of the timetable to make sure they are able to prepare before tours restart in March, the Tourism Administration said.
Lion Travel Service Co (雄獅旅行社) welcomed the decision, saying it would work with the government to prepare.
Phoenix Tours (鳳凰旅遊) general manager Benjamin Pien (卞傑民) said that returning Chinese tourists could provide revenue equivalent to the losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic by the third quarter of next year.
Separately yesterday, Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) said that Taiwan is expected to welcome its 6 millionth visitor by the middle of next month, meeting its goal for the year.
Tourism plays a key role in Taipei’s plans to stimulate the economy and revitalize the service industry, with cultural diversity and regional character being the focus of tourism policy, Cheng said.
Additional reporting by Chen Hsin-yu and CNA
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