The Chinese mainland is urging Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to promptly lift tourism barriers, as cross-Strait travel surged during the May Day holiday, a spokesperson said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Industry representatives in Taiwan are calling on the DPP authorities to swiftly resume and open up cross-Strait tourism to attract more mainland visitors. In response, Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stressed that the DPP authorities should heed the voices of industry and public opinion on the island and remove artificial barriers as soon as possible.
"According to incomplete statistics, passenger routes under 'Mini Three Links' recorded approximately 32,900 passenger trips during this year's May Day holiday. The Xiamen–Kinmen route experienced peak traffic, with occupancy rates exceeding 95 percent. Of these, close to 5,000 trips were made by mainland residents traveling to Kinmen, highlighting the strong bonds and travel demand between compatriots on both sides of the Strait," said Zhang.
"The mainland has always actively promoted the normalization of cross-Strait personnel exchanges and regular exchanges in various fields, taking the lead with a series of facilitation measures to show sincerity and goodwill. The tourism industry on the island has repeatedly called on the DPP authorities to follow public opinion and promptly lift restrictions on cross-Strait tourism exchanges. The DPP authorities should heed the calls of the industry and public needs, abandon political manipulation, and promptly remove artificial barriers to facilitate the early normalization of cross-Strait tourism exchanges," she said.
Chinese mainland urges Taiwan's DPP authorities to remove tourism barriers
With enhanced tax refund services and cultural attractions drawing huge crowds, the eastern coastal city of Xiamen is transforming how overseas visitors experience and spend in China.
The May Day holiday peak has passed, but the city's iconic Gulangyu Island is still buzzing with tourists. This UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site unveiled two new cultural landmarks this month: the China Film Music Exhibition Hall, the country's first museum dedicated to Chinese movie music, and the National Art Museum of China's Gulangyu Art Space. Both have quickly gained popularity among international travelers.
"It's my first time coming here, so I love it here. And the atmosphere is good. The art you showed is also perfect," said Rudolph Asase Mensah, a visitor from Ghana.
According to local statistics, Gulangyu has attracted more than 150,000 overseas tourists so far this year, marking an annual growth of over 49 percent. Beyond the exhibitions, the cultural and creative products on display have also drawn keen interest. Decorative fridge magnets featuring the island's historic architecture have become popular souvenirs.
"No one does creative and cultural products in museums as well as China does. And there's a kind of culture of doing that here in China. And I think this is as good as any other place that I've been [to]. It's great to be able to see some memorable items that people can take home from their visits so that they remember [them] into the future," said Rodney Harrison, a British tourist.
To further improve the shopping experience, Xiamen has been upgrading its departure tax refund service for overseas tourists since the start of the year. To date, the city has certified 151 tax refund stores, 71 of which offer the "refund upon purchase" service. These stores are located across major commercial districts and popular tourist neighborhoods, allowing overseas visitors to process tax refunds easily.
In the first four months of this year, the number of international tourists making purchases at Xiamen's departure tax refund stores surged over 560 percent year on year. Total sales grew by 66.8 percent, while the amount of tax refunds increased by nearly 100 percent.
"It's a good policy that brings convenience to tourists," said Bekdurdy, a traveler from Turkmenistan.
"Probably I will visit those shops and buy some gifts for my home country, also for my family and my friends," said Hassan Nawa from Pakistan.
Int'l tourists flock to Xiamen as shopping experience improves
