TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 2024 Taipei International Summer Travel Expo (2024台北國際夏季旅展) commenced on Friday (July 12), featuring officials and tourism operators from 12 Chinese provinces. Against the backdrop of strained cross-strait relations, tourism operators perceive this event as a positive indicator.
Spanning four days from July 12 to 15 at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 (台北世貿一館), the expo hosts 155 participants from China, including 29 officials, 107 tourism operators, and 19 cultural and artistic performers.
Ringo Lee (李奇嶽), chairman of the High Quality of Travel Association (中華優質旅遊發展協會), underscored the significance of Chinese operators' participation following the relaxation of COVID-19 measures. He highlighted that amidst tense cross-strait relations, such exchanges have yielded positive outcomes.
Lee emphasized the vital role of normalizing tourism exchanges for Taiwan, expressing optimism that these interactions could foster improved cross-strait relations. Lee pointed out that Chinese operators are familiar with Taiwan due to over a decade of tourism exchanges. He believes that reopening tourism channels could contribute to peace.
The previous day, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) also reiterated Taiwan's openness to Chinese tourists visiting Kinmen and Matsu under pre-pandemic protocols. He noted, however, that Taiwan had not yet received applications from the Chinese side.
The MAC expressed hope for equal, healthy, and orderly exchanges between both sides, welcoming the interactions at this travel expo. Despite political complexities, tourism operators from Taiwan and China are eager to gradually reopen and enhance tourism exchanges.
