TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai announced on Thursday (May 30) that Taiwan will allow travel agencies to proceed with tours to China that were organized before June 1, despite an earlier decision to suspend such tours starting in June. This announcement comes amid ongoing zero group travel from China to Taiwan, with Cho expressing hope for a gesture of goodwill from China.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Tourism Bureau on Feb. 7 had mandated a halt to group tours to China from June, based on the Statute for the Development of Tourism. However, facing calls from the tourism industry for the government to lift the ban and restart cross-strait tourism exchanges, the Executive Yuan has opted for a more flexible approach.
Cross-Strait Tourism Dynamics
Despite the relaxation for Taiwan's outbound tours, the inbound situation remains starkly different. Taiwan is expecting around 130,000 travelers to participate in tours to China this year, yet the number of Chinese tour groups visiting Taiwan remains at zero. Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) noted that after June, approximately 1,000 groups, totaling around 20,000 travelers, are scheduled to visit China.
The disparity in cross-strait tourism has prompted calls for a more open approach. Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Lee Li-jane (李麗珍) emphasized the hope that group travel from China to Taiwan would not be subject to conditions or regional restrictions. Echoing this sentiment, Cho reiterated the government's welcome policy towards Chinese tourists, urging China not to prohibit group travel to Taiwan and to show goodwill towards Taiwanese tourism operators.
