Three central government departments jointly issued Sunday
regulations for management of mainland residents' travels to the
Taiwan region, one day after a package of favorable policies to
boost cross-strait relations were issued.
The regulations, the Procedures for the Management of Mainland
Residents Traveling to the Taiwan Region, is jointly issued by the
National Tourism Administration (NTA), the Ministry of Public
Security, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
According to the 17-article regulations, mainland visitors would
tour Taiwan in groups organized by mainland travel agencies
designated by government departments, while Taiwan travel agencies
receiving mainland tourists should also be confirmed by the
relevant departments on the mainland.
The NTA and relevant departments adopt a quota system for
tourist groups to Taiwan and the quotas will be given to relevant
mainland travel agencies who have signed cooperative contracts with
their Taiwan counterparts.
A mainland official in charge of this matter said the issuance
of the regulations indicates that the mainland is making earnest
efforts to boost cross-strait personnel exchanges and Taiwan's
tourism sector, while hoping mainland tourists could travel to
Taiwan in a planned, organized and orderly manner.
The mainland will try to set up an integrity-based tourism
across the strait by guiding mainland agencies and individuals in
their activities.
Last April, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party
of China (CPC), and Lien Chan, then chairman of the Chinese
Kuomintang (KMT), reached consensuses during their talks, including
the promotion of Taiwan's tourism industry by encouraging mainland
tourists to make cross-strait tours.
On May 3, 2005 the mainland said it would allow mainland
residents to travel to Taiwan in the near future. To date the
mainland side has got everything ready, only awaiting a response
from Taiwan for such tours to start.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2006)