Taiwan will increase its daily quota for mainland Chinese tour groups and gradually move to lift travel restrictions on individual visits as part of efforts to enhance bilateral tourism exchanges, according to the Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation Dec. 21.
“We have decided to up the daily maximum of group visitors from 3,000 to 4,000 starting 2011,” said SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung. “Both sides of the strait are also working to allow individual trips by mainland Chinese tourists, and expect the arrangement to be in place by the first half of next year.”
Chiang’s remarks came during the sixth round of talks between the SEF and its mainland Chinese counterpart the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait in Taipei City.
According to SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian, measures clearing the way for mainland Chinese to visit Taiwan individually will be carried out step by step. “Initially, the authorization will be limited to residents in certain major cities in mainland China,” he said.
In addition to increasing the number of mainland Chinese visitors to Taiwan, Chiang said aviation officials from both sides of the strait will hold discussions on adding more direct cross-strait charter flight services during the Chinese Lunar New Year period.
“It is expected that Taiwan-based carriers will operate 122 extra charter flights during the holiday season,” he said.
