After a five-year suspension, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced plans to resume tour groups to Taiwan for Fujian and Shanghai residents. Soon after China’s announcement, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) extended a warm welcome to potential tourists. A spokesperson for MAC also responded that “the specifics of implementation are still pending the Chinese authorities’ announcement of specific measures.”

While cautious in tone, both governments hope to boost cross-strait exchange and communication. China’s recent expansion of visa-free transit for foreign visitors indicates an increasing desire to support tourism and strengthen international ties.

Chinese netizens were overjoyed by the recent announcement, with many RedNote users already sharing their Taiwan travel permits and flight details. Others said they look forward to attending concerts in Taiwan and enjoying Taiwanese night markets. It’s a much anticipated revival, and many hope that China will lift the Taiwan travel ban for other provinces as well. 

In 2020, Taiwan prohibited all travel agencies from accepting Chinese tourists, and also prohibited all tour groups from visiting China. China also banned individual tourists from visiting Taiwan during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

At the height of cross-strait tourism in 2016, 4.18 million Chinese tourists visited Taiwan, accounting for over a quarter of total visitors that year. There are more than 4,000 travel agencies in Taiwan, with 90% of them targeting Chinese mainland tourists. The ban on Chinese tourists has affected the restaurant, hospitality, insurance, and transportation industries in recent years.

As a result of the travel ban, some travel agencies began offering black market group tours that brought in Chinese visitors through legal gray areas. However, this proved risky for Taiwanese locals and Chinese visitors alike. In the event of an emergency, uninsured Chinese travelers have limited ways to receive help and file claims. The issue of questionable legality gives travel agencies the opportunity to shift blame, further complicating the process.

Since 2020, there have been continual calls from Taiwan’s tourism industry to remove the travel ban. Although Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party remains cautious of excessive Chinese influence, it also must weigh the general public’s desire for more cross-strait exchange. Hopefully, the planned resumption of group tours to Taiwan will provide an opportunity for more mutually beneficial collaboration between the two governments.

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