M’land Tourists to Taiwan Decline by 50%, Industry on M’land to Promote Tourism

 M’land Tourists to Taiwan Decline by 50%, Industry on M’land to Promote Tourism

Source: All Taipei Newspaper

December 06, 2016

The number of Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan has declined sharply over the past six months. In September, local pan-Blue mayors and county executives from eight cities and counties in Taiwan visited Mainland China to seek ways to improve and promote cross-Strait tourism and sales of Taiwan’s agricultural produce to the Mainland.

 Later, the Mainland released eight policy points in promoting tourism in the eight cities and counties. The policy points included plans for strengthening business and cultural exchanges with these cities and counties, as well as increasing sales of farm products to the Mainland.  

  On November 21, a Beijing-authorized delegation embarked on an 8-day visit to Taiwan. The delegation visited eight pan-Blue cities and counties, and was regarded as a warm-up for an event scheduled to be held in December to promote Taiwan tourism and agricultural produce on the Mainland.    

 In order to promote local tourism on the Mainland as quickly as possible, a delegation composed of several tourism industry representatives yesterday embarked on a visit to the Mainland and called at Beijing’s National Tourism Administration and the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, in the hope that the Mainland could allow more people to visit Taiwan, so both sides could engage in normal exchanges as in the past. The Taiwan delegation also expressed the hope that the Cross-Strait Tourism Association (on the Mainland, 海旅會) and the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (on Taiwan,台旅會) could resume holding round table discussions.   

 According to a Beijing official, the Mainland had never set a quota for tourists visiting Taiwan, adding that the decline in tourism was the result of market forces. However, the official stated candidly that the sharp decline in the number of Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan was related to the current state of cross-Strait relations. Moreover, the July 19 tour bus blaze tragedy, which claimed the lives of all on board, including 24 tourists from the Mainland’s Dalian City, left a negative impression on elderly Mainland tourists who had intended to visit Taiwan.         

 According to the same official, the Mainland clearly understood the fact that the tourism industry faced a dire situation on account of the decline in Mainland tourists. However, the political tensions across the Strait were the main reason Mainland tourist were unwilling to visit Taiwan. This situation was caused by the Tsai Ing-wen administration, so the problem can only be solved by the one who caused the problem, concluded the same official.    

 Media report noted that the number of Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan declined by 44% in October and 50% in November compared to the same period last year.  

 The delegation from Taiwan would also exchange views with the Cross-Strait Tourism Association, local tourism bureaus, and several travel agencies on the Mainland in hope that the Mainland could allow more Mainland tour groups and individual tourists to visit Taiwan. 

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