YES TO INDIVIDUAL CHINESE TOURISTS

Starting in late June, independent Chinese tourists will be able to travel to Taiwan, according to the Mainland Affairs Council. But the Taiwan legislators have since expressed their hope of lifting the restriction in time for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, which falls on June 6th this year. To ensure the safety of the people, the Tourism Bureau is conducting inspections on popular attractions on the island, and necessary measures will also be in effect to prevent potential crimes after opening up the borders.

China and Taiwan have finally reached a consensus after two years of talks about tourism-related policies. Under the new proposal, Chinese tourists will have the leisure to travel to Taiwan on their own starting in late June, without having to fly or ride with a group.

However, the Taiwanese lawmakers are hoping to increase the process by allowing them to start coming in by the Dragon Boat Festival. The Tourism Bureau said that the island has since earned 103.4 billion NT dollars from Chinese tour groups, and by opening it up for independent travelers, it is expected to generate an additional 5 billion NT dollars annually.

Local authorities are also in the process of carrying out thorough inspections over the most-visited destinations to prepare for the potential large number of people. As to protect our nation, the National Police Agency said that in addition to the instant reporting device, a mutual crime-fighting agreement is also in place between the two sides to track down the visitors' whereabouts and information.

The Mainland Affairs Council is in the final stage of discussing travel packages for independent travelers.

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