Healthy growth envisioned for cross-Straits tourism

Cross-straits related departments will enhance cooperation to guide the healthy and orderly development of Chinese mainland tourism to Taiwan, a spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Taiwan opened the door to individual tourists from the mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen in 2011 and extended permission to residents of 10 more mainland cities in 2012.

According to spokeswoman Fan Liqing, by the end of November more than 1.07 million individual tourists from the Chinese mainland had visited Taiwan this year, a year increase of 123 percent.

"Since Taiwan opened the door to group tourists from the Chinese mainland, the number of tourists increased steadily year by year," she said.

Cross-straits romance is the main cause of Chinese mainland tourists staying in Taiwan illegally, the Taiwan interior department said on Dec 10.

"Eighty-four people have illegally stayed in Taiwan, 52 of whom have not yet left and their whereabouts are unknown," Chen was quoted by the Taiwan news agency.

An investigation found most of the 52 remained in Taiwan because they have girlfriends or boyfriends there, Chen said.

"With increasing of cross-Straits marriage and romance, it is understandable that sometimes young people's behaviors are the impulse of love," she said.

"We will continue promoting measures to provide more convenience for the exchange and communication of people cross-Straits," she said.