Despite reports that China would restrict the number of tourists visiting Taiwan following January’s presidential election, the Tourism Bureau yesterday said that there was only a slight decrease in the number of Chinese tourists entering Taiwan.
The bureau said the average number of Chinese tourists entering Taiwan between January and Wednesday was 5,677 per day.
However, between March 1 and Sunday, the average reached between 7,000 and 8,000 per day. When examining the number of applications for entry permits at the National Immigration Agency (NIA), the bureau found the number of tourists scheduled to enter after March 20 is about 5,000 to 6,000 per day, similar to the average for this year.
Bureau Hotel, Travel and Training Division Deputy Director Chen Chiung-hua (陳瓊華) said that some Chinese tourists who were scheduled to travel to Taiwan in January might have delayed their trips to avoid the presidential election.
Chen said that peak season for Chinese tourists is last month and this month, which might have contributed to the rise in numbers seen early this month.
She said that Chinese tourists must secure entry permits before entering Taiwan, adding that the NIA has a daily quota for entry permits, which are valid for three months and have no limit on re-entry while they are still valid.
The bureau said the NIA has not experienced a decline in applications for entry permits.
As of yesterday, Chinese tourists joining tour groups would have to wait between two weeks and one month to secure their permits, while independent Chinese travelers can obtain their entry permits on the day they submit an application.
A possible decline in numbers of Chinese tourists after president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is sworn into office on May 20 has caused concern within the tourism industry, with Taiwanese travel agencies said to have been told that some Chinese cities have stopped issuing permits for travelers heading to Taiwan.
Former Travel Agent Association secretary-general Roget Hsu (許高慶) said that some of Taiwan’s small and medium-sized travel agencies are struggling due a decrease in numbers of Chinese tourists, adding that they face going out of business, being forced to lay off workers or putting their employees on unpaid leave if numbers do decrease after May 20.
Chen said that cross-strait relations would continue to be a variable between now and May 20.
However, so far, all speculation over a restriction on Chinese tourists to Taiwan is merely hearsay, she said, adding that the bureau has not received an official response from China.
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