While Taiwan is planning to lift the ban on individual Chinese tourists to Taiwan, three female mainland tourists have reportedly left their tour group in secret last month, making the total number of absconded Chinese tourists to 36. In response to whether or not this incident will affect the timetable of lifting the ban, the Tourism Bureau said that they are still in discussion with other government sections.

Tourism officials on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are currently assessing the feasibility of allowing individual Chinese tourists into Taiwan.

At present time, Chinese tourists can only enter Taiwan as part of a tour group.

Last month, three female tourists from Chongqing absconded from their tour group on their third day in Taiwan.

China has banned the Chinese travel agency in charge of the group from bringing tour groups to Taiwan for one month, while Taiwan has fined the local travel agency a total of 300,000 NT.

There are currently 36 absconded Chinese tourists in Taiwan with unknown whereabouts.

The Bureau of Tourism says that the Mainland Affairs Council is still reviewing supplementary measures and timetables for individual Chinese tourists to Taiwan,

while the National Immigration Agency says that the absconding rate of Chinese tourists is .003% compared to .09% for Japan.

Relevant authorities have yet to announce whether background checks will be conducted for individual tourists.

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