Chinese Mainland to Resume Group Tours to Taiwan for Fujian and Shanghai Residents

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) has announced plans to restore group tour services for residents of Fujian and Shanghai heading to Taiwan. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized that this action reflects the mutual desire for improved interaction between the two regions. He expressed wishes for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to respond positively to public sentiment and industry voices by lifting restrictions on group tours, removing travel advisories, and facilitating regular direct flights.

The announcement triggered a notable spike in interest regarding travel to Taiwan on the Chinese mainland’s Ctrip platform, with searches surging by 48 percent. In 2019, residents from Shanghai and Fujian made up 30 percent of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan. Although direct flights from major mainland cities to Taiwan are currently available, the tourism sector in Taiwan has struggled largely due to the DPP's policies. When news of the group tour resumption was broadcast, many in Taiwan's tourism industry felt invigorated, with expressions of glee regarding the prospects for business recovery.

Former Kuomintang leader Ma Ying-jeou pointed out that the resumption of tours aligns with the interests of both regions and delivers an encouraging message to the Taiwanese public, who long for better cross-Straits relations. Wu Chia-ying, from the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, praised the warm intention behind the mainland's policy, emphasizing the urgency for Taiwan's travel agencies to adapt and hire more personnel as a result of newfound hope for tourism.

Despite this, the DPP has shown ambivalence regarding the resumption, indicating that while they welcome mainland tourists, specific details are still dependent on further announcements from the mainland. Chen clarified that steps are actively being taken to restart these group tours and highlighted that the main barriers to tourism stem from the DPP's stance, adding that DPP members have dismissed these positive measures as politically motivated.

According to Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute, the DPP is caught in a challenging position, balancing their aim to limit exchanges while also recognizing public demand for connectivity to the mainland. Meanwhile, the mainland continues to advocate for peaceful reunification and sustained cross-Straits engagement in various sectors, reinforcing its commitment to the shared welfare of both populations.