As long as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities lift the ban on group tours from Taiwan to the mainland, the mainland will consider further expanding travel access for mainland residents to Taiwan and enhancing cross-Strait tourism exchanges and cooperation, said a Chinese mainland spokesman in Beijing on Wednesday.
Chen Binhua, the spokesman, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query about reports from Taiwan indicating that Taiwan's tourism deficit is projected to widen this year, with 10 million more outbound tourists than those visiting Taiwan, which would result in a deficit of around 22.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Some public opinions and industry insiders in Taiwan have pointed out that the rapid decrease in mainland tourists has led to a significant drop in visitors to Taiwan, with the strained cross-Strait relations directly affecting the willingness of international tourists to visit Taiwan.
"The DPP authorities stubbornly seek 'independence', intensify cross-Strait confrontation, and deliberately obstruct and sabotage cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, which are the direct causes why Taiwan's tourism industry is in a dilemma. Facts have proved that that 'Taiwan independence' is akin to a 'poison for Taiwan', and it means no peace in the Taiwan Strait and no development in Taiwan," Chen said.
"As long as the DPP authorities lift the 'ban on group tours', remove restrictions on cross-Strait personnel exchanges and cooperation in various areas, we will, on the basis of resuming mainland residents traveling to Matsu and Kinmen, consider further expanding mainland residents' travel access to Taiwan and enhancing cross-Strait tourism exchanges and cooperation," he said.
Chinese mainland to mull expanding travel access to Taiwan if DPP lifts ban: spokesman
