Taiwan businesses await return of mainland tourists

Many Taiwanese hospitality businesses are feeling the pinch of the continued absence of tourists from the Chinese mainland, with some yearning for the economic boost they provide.

Ximending, a tourist neighborhood in Taipei, is popular for its souvenir shops and local cuisine. Since the end of the pandemic, visitors have been flocking to the district again, although tourists from the Chinese mainland are mainly noticeable by their absence.

Jiang Lian Chun, a local tour guide, offers private day tours in his taxi. In the past, mainland holiday makers made up the majority of his customers.

"Chinese mainland tourists made up around 30 percent of all visitors from around the world," said Jiang.

Taiwan's tourism industry is rebounding from the pandemic slump, with about 7.8 million visitors in 2024, still far below the nearly 12 million visitors Taiwan welcomed in 2019.

Although Taiwan has seen a surge in visitors from places like South Korea, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, these visitors haven't filled the void left by the mainland tourists and their spending power.

Retailers and restaurants alike are bearing the brunt. Souvenir shops selling Taiwan's famed pineapple tarts and other treats have taken a big hit.

"There are many souvenir shops in Ximending. Tourists from the Chinese mainland love to buy souvenirs and they buy a large quantity," said Liu Jinlong, of the Ximen Pedestrian District Development Association.

Earlier this year, China announced it would allow group tour services for residents of Fujian and Shanghai to Taiwan to resume, and many businesses here are hoping restrictions may be eased further.

Despite the positive signals on travel, cross-strait ties remain tense. There's no certainty yet that Chinese mainland visits will return to pre-pandemic levels, meaning businesses in Taiwan may struggle to fill the gap.

The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a media query about the reports that the Israeli parliament recently adopted a new law introducing death penalty for Palestinians, and countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed strong condemnation, saying such practice is "entrenching a system of apartheid."

"All legislation must conform to legal principles such as the principle of legality, fairness and justice, and must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political view. The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected. Relevant party’s actions that escalate tensions and exacerbate confrontation must stop," said Mao.