TAIPEI, Tawian – Taiwan introduced Thursday it can loosen restrictions on Chinese business and group vacationers in a step in the direction of resuming tourism exchanges with China.
Beijing suspended particular person tourism permits to Taiwan in 2019 in an indication of worsening relations below Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who refuses to just accept China’s declare over the self-ruled island.
Taiwan reopened its borders to most vacationers final October after years of Covid pandemic closures however vacationers from mainland China stay barred.
The Mainland Affairs Council, the Taiwanese authorities physique in command of cross-strait relations, introduced on Thursday that they may “loosen restrictions” on business vacationers from China from Monday.
Individual Chinese nationals may also apply to enter Taiwan from one other nation from September 1, spokesman Jan Jyh-horng stated.
“We will also allow Chinese tour groups to come to Taiwan, but initially to a maximum of 2,000 people allowed in per day,” Jan stated.
He stated the resumption of group excursions would occur in a month to permit for “preparation time” however no particular date was given.
“Taiwanese tour groups can travel to China but the initial number will be capped at 2,000 based on reciprocity,” Jan stated.
Currently, solely particular person Taiwanese travellers can enter China.
Asked if the coverage change amounted to Taiwan extending an olive department to China, Jan stated Taipei hoped to “resume all levels of exchanges between both sides”.
“We have decided today to announce our policy on organising group tours. We have made the first step and we hope they (China) can respond positively,” he stated
Taiwan skilled a pointy drop in mainland vacationers after Tsai took workplace in 2016, with tourism operators attributing the decline to a extra adverse portrayal of the island in Chinese media in addition to Beijing banning group excursions.
Ringo Lee, chairman of a Taiwanese journey affiliation, stated Chinese vacationers accounted for greater than a 3rd of the sector earlier than the pandemic.
“The situation today is not a healthy situation and it has nothing to do with Covid-19,” he stated, calling Thursday’s announcement “a drop in the bucket”.
“I don’t think it is enough. We need more (Chinese tourists),” he stated. “The tourism sector is suffering and in dire straits.”
Beijing has been slowly permitting its residents to journey once more, though Taiwan stays off its record.
China claims democratic Taiwan as its personal and has lengthy vowed to take the territory someday, by drive if obligatory. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
