The government should lift a ban on tour groups to China, ease restrictions for Chinese business travelers and negotiate with Beijing to reinstate cross-strait tourism, a group of travel industry professionals told a news conference hosted by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday.
The ban on China tours has prevented Taiwanese travel operators from entering the Chinese market since the end of pandemic restrictions, Taiwan Tourism Development Promotion Association chairman Chang Kuei-chuan (張桂銓) said.
“The government should also ease travel restrictions for Chinese business travelers,” he added.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Some groups get around the ban by traveling individually and meeting at their destination, Taiwan Travel Agent Association chairman Huang Wen-ching (黃文卿) said.
Their rights as travelers would not be protected in the event of travel-related disputes, he added.
“We are asking the government to take into account our wish to have tours to China reinstated,” Huang said, adding that a specific time frame would also help them schedule their tours.
International Association of Tour Managers chairwoman Yen Tsung-yin (嚴從音) said that 37 percent of its members are licensed to guide Mandarin-speaking tour groups.
Group tours are allowed to Hong Kong and Macau, but travelers prefer to visit these destinations individually, leaving Mandarin-language tour operators virtually unemployed, Yen said.
Taipei Association of Travel Agents vice chairman Ko Mu-chou (柯牧洲) said that 80 percent of Chinese travelers visit Taiwan as tourists, which supports the industry.
“We hope that the government considers our right to work and survive. Reinstating cross-strait tours can safeguard peace and protect Taiwan,” Ko said.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏) at the news conference said he agrees with the KMT’s call for a recovery of cross-strait tourism.
“They should relay this appeal to Beijing as well, rather than only telling the Taiwanese government what to do,” Jan said.
China has reopened its borders, but still does not not allow Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan, Jan said.
Cross-strait exchanges can only work if approached bilaterally, he added.
“We have already allowed Chinese students to come to Taiwan to study, although Beijing still bans them from coming,” he said.
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