China obstructing tourism, not Taiwan: MAC

• By Jason Pan / Staff reporter, with CNA

Taiwan welcomes Chinese tourists, but Beijing’s ban on travel remains an obstacle, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) yesterday told legislators when asked why travel from across the Taiwan Strait has not improved.

Chiu made the comments while presenting a report on the situation of tourism between Taiwan and China at a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) said that Taiwanese can go to China as an independent tourist, but China prohibits its citizens from traveling to Taiwan.

“Beijing is not providing equal treatment for mutual benefits, it only permits a small, restricted opening for local tourists,” Su said, referring to the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism last week announcing that it would allow residents of China’s Fujian Province to visit Lienchiang County (Matsu).

“So in the spirit of reciprocity, should we only allow Taiwanese on the Matsu islands to travel in group tours to China’s Fujian? Or maybe also for Kinmen County residents?” she said, adding that both sides must open up and accumulate goodwill before broadening travel.

Independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) said that the tourism industry was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the pandemic over, “the promise for Taiwan and China to open up for tourists has not been realized.

As 220,000 people in Taiwan depend on tourism business, the government should look for ways to stimulate tourism, and not just focus on the semiconductor industry, Chin said.

Chiu said that the main obstruction is China’s ban against its citizens visiting Taiwan.

“Policies on tourism are being evaluated, with changes in cross-strait travel being considered. We hope to have a ‘complete open-door policy’ conducted on the premise of reciprocity for travel between Taiwan and China,” he said.

“Our tourism sector’s 220,000 people who wish to get back on the job, must ask China to allow their tourists to travel to Taiwan. We have since August last year allowed travel from China, but it is the Chinese government that refuses to open up,” he said