Cross-Strait tourism can resume once Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities remove restrictions, said a spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday.
The DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te have adopted various measures to obstruct and restrict cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors. Tourism industry representatives in the Taiwan region have called on Taiwan authorities to lift restrictions on cross-Strait travel as soon as possible.
"Since the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-teLai Ching-te assumed the office, they have deliberately obstructed cross-Strait travel, tourism, exchange and cooperation, refusing to lift the ban on group travel to the mainland. The authorities upgraded its travel alert to 'orange' for the mainland and released the so-called 2025 mainland travel safety manual. They have also blocked the full resumption of direct cross-Strait passenger flights and, under various excuses, obstructed group tour services for residents of Fujian and Shanghai to Taiwan. They even urged local tourism operators to dissuade Taiwan residents from traveling to the mainland. These moves go against the trend of the times which has further worsened the plight of the island's tourism industry, leading to growing public discontent," said Chen Binhua, the spokesman.
"Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family," Chen said, adding that it is natural for compatriots to visit each other and learn more about each other's way of life as such interactions not only benefit the development of the tourism industry on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but also contribute positively to the development of cross-Strait relations.
The mainland has consistently upheld the concept of "Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family" and actively promoted the resumption of cross-Strait tourism. The mainland has made continuous efforts in this regard, Chen said.
"As long as the DPP authorities remove the obstacles they have imposed on cross-Strait travel, exchanges and cooperation, cross-Strait tourism can resume, which will allow people on both sides of the Strait to visit each other more frequently. Industries, enterprises, and workers in sectors such as tourism, accommodation, civil aviation, and shipping will benefit from it," said Chen.
Cross-Strait tourism can resume once Taiwan authorities lift restrictions: mainland spokesman
