The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it welcomes Chinese travelers to the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, in response to an announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Friday that it would soon reopen travel for residents of China’s Fujian Province to visit Kinmen.
A delegation of members from Kinmen County Council and travel agencies met with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) in Beijing on Thursday last week to advocate for allowing Chinese visitors to Kinmen.
The delegation was led by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Kinmen County Council Speaker Hung Yun-tien (洪允典).
Photo: CNA
KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍), who traveled to Beijing with the delegation, said Song gave them a very positive response, including a remark that “I will not let you return empty-handed.”
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Friday said in a statement on its official Web site that “in response to the request of Kinmen County representatives, the ministry will soon reopen travel for Fujian residents to visit Kinmen.”
Chen said that the announcement would undoubtedly result in a large sum of money being poured into Kinmen, which would significantly benefit the economy and livelihoods of people from all walks of life on the islands, as well as encourage the peaceful development of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Chen said there were about 800,000 Chinese visitors to Kinmen in previous years, and with each visitor spending an average of about NT$8,000 (US$250), they bring in a net income of about NT$6.4 billion per year to Kinmen.
“We are very happy to see the announcement on the Web site and that it is a concrete response to their request,” she said.
In addition, as businesses in Kinmen are currently experiencing a downturn, the reopening to Chinese tourists would certainly help a lot, while also increasing mutual understanding and exchanges between people from both sides, she said.
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