Mainland tourists to Taiwan will need to pay a refundable deposit of 50,000 yuan (US$7,143) or more to ensure they return, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.

Shanghai Jinjiang Travel Service and Shanghai CYTS Tours Corporation, the two authorized travel agencies to organize tours to Taiwan, will accept the deposits before the first travel group to the island sets off on July 4.

The practice, similar to that put in place when trips to Hong Kong and Macau were first launched, is to raise the threshold of group members and ensure they return home as scheduled, the report said.

According to regulations by the Ministry of Public Security, mainland tourists can travel to Taiwan on a single-journey visa that costs 20 yuan or a multiple-entry visa for 100 yuan.

In accordance with previous requirements for mainland residents to visit Taiwan for personal affairs, Taiwan trip applicants should take the original and duplicate versions of their ID card and permanent resident booklet, two passport-size photos and official permission for entry to Taiwan when they apply to the Shanghai Entry-Exit Administration, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2008)