travel to China 結果共45筆

The story discusses the response of Changhua County Chief Wang Hui-mei to rumors that village chiefs from Changhua County were treated to trips to China. Wang questioned the nation’s confidence in itself and challenged the notion that hospitality could sway one’s allegiance. Reports of possible Chinese intervention in the electoral process, including invitations to village chiefs for travel to the mainland, have emerged ahead of the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential elections. The Changhua District Prosecutors Office has detained a suspect allegedly organizing these trips and has summoned 22 individuals for questioning. Wang interpreted the scrutiny her county is under as a ＂swing county＂ and expressed trust in the wisdom of the village chiefs to handle the situation.

Discover America Committee in Taiwan President Brenda Tang revealed that the U.S. travel market from Taiwan has rebounded to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Tourism Administration. Taiwanese travelers heading to the United States surged by 185% from January to October this year, reaching 396,913, as reported by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Flights to the U.S. during the peak summer season had load factors of over 90%, while the off-peak months of September and October maintained load factors of at least 85%. China Airlines and EVA Airways have nearly returned to pre-pandemic flight levels, and Starlux Airlines is set to launch its San Francisco route. United Airlines plans to double its Taipei to San Francisco flights, and Delta Air Lines is preparing to commence a Taipei to Seattle route. Tour package prices to the U.S. for the first quarter of next year and the Lunar New Year peak season are expected to increase by no more than 25%, offering travelers some price assurance amid growing demand.

Taiwanese writer Lo Sen has been missing in China since November last year and is suspected to be detained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that neither Lo Sen nor his family have sought assistance from any Taiwanese authorities, including the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). Lo Sen, known for his adult novels, was recently reported to have been sentenced to 12 years on charges of profiting from privately publishing pornography. The MAC highlighted the CCP’s intensified internal security management, which has resulted in disruptions and restrictions on personal freedom for Taiwanese citizens and foreign enterprises in China. The MAC urged Taiwanese citizens to register with the ＂Mainland Travel Dynamic Registration＂ system before traveling to China to facilitate assistance in emergencies. The SEF has received reports of Taiwanese citizens being interrogated upon entry into China, with various reasons for the scrutiny, including the possession of religious-related books, posing challenges to cross-strait exchanges.

Foreign investors have purchased a net 8,926 shares of Eva Air, making it the fourth most bought by foreigners in the session. The recovery in travel and business after the pandemic has improved operations in the aviation industry, with staff shortages at airports in northeast Asia finally relaxing. Demand for flights to China, Hong Kong, and Macao is gradually increasing, with booking rates for northeast Asian routes exceeding 90 percent. Eva Air plans to focus on routes in northeast Asia and to China, Hong Kong, and Macao as its operational priority next year, with an expected increase in weekly flights to a total of 538. The airline is also set to take delivery of two Boeing 787-10 aircraft, enhancing its fleet deployment flexibility.

The Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Mei-hua, stated that the release of the list of key national technologies will not impact businesses as they have been consulted beforehand. The focus is on enhancing the protection of critical technologies. The National Science and Technology Council revealed a list of 22 core national key technologies across defense, agriculture, semiconductors, space, and cyber-security, including two semiconductor technologies. Personnel involved with key technologies receiving over 50% subsidies from the government must seek permission before traveling to China, as per the National Security Act and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. The two semiconductor technologies listed are IC fabrication technology for processes smaller than 14 nanometers and heterogeneous integration packaging technology. Wang emphasized the importance of protecting key technologies to prevent confidential business information leakage and enhance national security standards. The next steps involve reviewing and providing lists of personnel meeting certain subsidy thresholds and involved with sensitive technologies to relevant entities for management purposes.

Taiwan’s CDC warns that respiratory illness cases in China may peak around Lunar New Year due to multiple pathogens affecting the northern regions. The CDC emphasizes that the surge is not caused by a single agent and poses challenges across different age groups. In addition to mycoplasma, other infectious threats like influenza and COVID-19 should not be ignored. To prepare for increased cross-strait travel, the CDC urges vaccination against flu and COVID-19, especially for the elderly and young children with weaker immune systems. Non-essential trips to China are recommended to be postponed as a precautionary health measure.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, has called on the people of Taiwan and China to support the 1992 Consensus and oppose Taiwanese independence in order to restore peaceful development in cross-Strait relations. This statement was made during a regular press conference on Wednesday morning. Zhu also mentioned the potential Blue-White Coalition in the upcoming Taiwanese presidential election, emphasizing that peace, development, and cooperation represent the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. Zhu further stated that mainland residents will only be able to travel to Taiwan when cross-Strait relations are on the correct track of peaceful development. This communication reflects China’s consistent stance on Taiwan, reaffirming its commitment to the 1992 Consensus and strong opposition to Taiwan’s independence. It is evident that China is closely monitoring Taiwan’s political dynamics in light of the upcoming election.

Explore the latest developments in Taiwan’s travel industry as the government implements a cap on group travel to China, sparking concerns among agencies and travelers. Learn how the Mainland Affairs Council is responding to the backlash and the potential impact on cross-strait relations.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) minister has stated that multiple channels have been used to raise awareness of the ＂Online Registration System for Taiwanese Citizens Visiting Mainland China.＂ The system was implemented in January 2023 to improve emergency assistance services for travelers. However, out of over one million Taiwanese nationals who visited China from January to September, only around 2,000 registered with the system, resulting in a usage rate of just 0.19%. MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san acknowledged the low uptake and stated that efforts have been made to promote the system, including engaging travel agencies. Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung highlighted that in August alone, over 200,000 people traveled from Taiwan to China, but only 554 registrations were made. Minister Chiu explained that registration is voluntary, and if citizens do not anticipate encountering problems in mainland China, it is challenging for the ministry to enforce it. In response to calls for increased promotion, Chiu promised that MAC colleagues would intensify efforts to raise awareness about the registration system.

Taiwanese airlines, including China Airlines, EVA Air, Tigerair Taiwan, and Starlux Airlines, have reported record revenues in October and for the first ten months of the year. Starlux Airlines achieved a monthly operating income of NT＄2.087 billion in October, the third highest in its history. China Airlines saw a 7.85% monthly increase and a 28.56% annual increase in October, with total revenue reaching NT＄16.076 billion. EVA Air’s October revenue increased by 6.8% monthly and 46.57% annually to NT$17.525 billion. Tigerair Taiwan experienced the most significant growth, with October revenue increasing by 13.7% from September and skyrocketing 1040% from last year to NT＄1.22 billion. The industry expects this revenue trend to continue as flight operations resume, driven by the northeast Asia leaf-viewing and skiing season, as well as peak travel periods such as Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve in Europe, America, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Thai government has launched a 30-day visa-free policy for Taiwanese tourists, aiming to increase the number of visitors by 20%. Around 600,000 Taiwanese tourists visited Thailand this year, and Thai officials hope to raise this number to at least 725,000 by the end of 2023. Since the announcement of the new policy, queries about Thailand on travel websites have increased by 30%. Travelers are also pleased with the elimination of visa costs, which can range from NT $1,200 to over $10,000. To further attract tourists, travel agencies and airlines are offering discounted round-trip tickets to Bangkok from Taipei, with prices as low as NT $5,000. Thailand is already among the top overseas travel destinations for Taiwanese, along with Japan, mainland China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the U.S.-China talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Kishida plans to meet with Xi the day after U.S. President Joe Biden’s meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss unresolved issues between Japan and China, including Japan’s request for China to remove import restrictions on Japanese seafood products. Additionally, the dialogue aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote regional stability. Japan’s National Security Secretariat Secretary General Akiba Takeo will travel to China for coordination efforts. The APEC summit, which includes leaders from 21 member countries, will take place in San Francisco from November 15 to 17.

The Travel Agents Association Chairman, Hsiao Po-jen, has announced that the Taiwanese government may lift travel group bans to China before Chinese New Year in 2024. Minister Wang Kwo-tsai of Transportation and Communications and Mainland Affairs Council revealed that the MOTC Tourist Administration Director General, Chou Yung-Hui, confirmed plans to lift restrictions on Taiwanese travel groups just before the holiday next year. The ban on private arrangement of group tours to China has been in place since the Covid-19 pandemic, making this decision a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations between the two states. The MAC has also announced plans to restore cross-strait group tours, initially allowing 2,000 visitors per day from China. The lift on travel restrictions may come earlier than expected if China expresses goodwill to welcome tourists from across the Strait.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications plans to open up tour groups to China and allow Chinese tour groups to Taiwan by March 1, 2024. However, some travel agencies find the pace of this ＂un-banning＂ too slow and have admitted to organizing tour groups to China under the guise of ＂visiting groups.＂ This ban, which has lasted for over three years, has severely impacted over 90% of Taiwan’s 4,000 plus travel agencies operating in the Chinese market.

KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih unveils a bold plan to attract 18 million foreign tourists if elected as Taiwan’s next president. Hou believes that tourism is a reflection of national strength and aims to counter the economic recession by boosting the industry. His proposed policy includes a 15% increase in the budget to improve infrastructure, such as airports, ports, the High Speed Rail, and the Taiwan Railway. In response to a recent incident involving a Taiwanese tour group in Xinjiang, Hou criticizes the government for not lifting restrictions on group tours to China, leading to privately arranged travel groups.

Premier Chen Chien-jen expresses disappointment at mainland China’s lack of response to Taiwan’s efforts to resume cross-strait tourism. Taiwan had hoped to lift the travel ban in the second half of this year but has not received a response.

Mainland Chinese tour groups may not be able to visit Taiwan until next year, according to Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai. Despite Taiwan’s efforts to lift the travel ban in the second half of this year, mainland China has not responded. The Mainland Affairs Council has allowed mainland Chinese citizens from third places to visit Taiwan for tourism since September 1.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday (June 28) urged Taiwan authorities to lift restrictions on cross-strait travel and prioritize the exchange of information on the tourism industry amid reports that 60 mainland officials were removed from an invitation list to attend Summer Travel Expo in Taipei from July 14 to 17.

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday (April 5) as he heads to the Yangshan Port, one of the last travel destinations on his 12-day-long China journey.

Although international travel is still not back to normal, China Airlines called for a meeting with its Board of Directors. They passed a decision to purchase 16 Boeing 787-9 passenger planes, with an estimated price tag of NT$139.8 billion. The move has raised much speculation about whether it has to do with the recent U.S. delegations’ visits to Taiwan.