Mainland tourists to Taiwan up 45% in Q1

People watch lanterns rising into the sky to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb 14, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese mainland visitors to Taiwan reached 767,400 in the first quarter of 2014, up 45 percent year on year, a Taiwan affairs office spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

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The number of individual tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan hit 252,200 in the first quarter, a rise of 176 percent year on year, thanks to the mainland's efforts to make cross-Straits travel more convenient, said Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Mainland people who signed up for organized group package tours to Taiwan reached 515,200 in the first quarter, Fan said.

The past four months have witnessed a continuous increase in the number of mainland visitors to Taiwan, according to the spokeswoman.

She also noted that mainland tourists have shown enthusiasm for travel to Taiwan for the upcoming May Day holiday, citing statistics from Taiwan that tours to the island have been fully booked in advance.

Mainland tourists are encouraged to show good manners while sightseeing in Taiwan, Fan said, adding that both sides should try to ensure the safety of mainland tourists.