China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism today announced that tour groups of residents from Shanghai and Fujian Province would soon be allowed to visit Taiwan.
Currently, Chinese tourism to Taiwan is restricted to the outlying counties of Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) via China’s Fujian Province through the “small three links,” ferry services connecting the islands to China.
At the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum last month, Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan (華源) said that the city would promote Taiwan and Taipei as a destination for its residents.
Photo: Taipei Times
The decision was framed as a move to normalize cross-strait exchanges, with the ministry saying that preparations are underway and encouraging both sides’ tourism industries to collaborate on providing services.
The Mainland Affairs Council welcomed the announcement, but said that details still need to be clarified by Beijing.
The Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association of Taiwan would communicate to ensure tourists’ safety and a high quality of service to ensure that all goes smoothly once travel restarts, it said.
Taiwan’s stance of welcoming Chinese tourists has not changed, the Tourism Administration said, adding that restoring reciprocal cross-strait tourism is established government policy.
Additional reporting by Wu Liang-yi
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