2011-02-24 22:36

TAIPEI - A record 5.14 million Taiwan tourists visited the Chinese mainland last year, up 14.64 percent year on year, according to the mainland-based Cross-Straits Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA).

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This was the first time that the number of Taiwan tourists broke the 5 million mark, said CTEA chairman Shao Qiwei here on Thursday.

Taiwan tourists spent $5.74 billion in the mainland in 2010, an increase of 16.52 percent from the previous year. In addition, the number of tourists who stayed overnight shot up by 13.89 percent year on year to hit 4.36 million last year.

Shao said that the rising number was partly driven by major events such as the Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in Guangzhou held last year.

"The rising number of Taiwan visitors not only boosted mainland tourism, but it also deepened Taiwan compatriots' understanding of the mainland," he said.

Taiwan, which opened to package tours for mainland visitors from the mainland in July 2008, now allows mainland tourists to travel to the island on package tours for up to 15 days.

According to Taiwan's mainland affairs department, 1.82 million mainland tourists visited Taiwan on tour packages from July 2008 to the end of last year.

Shao said earlier this week that the mainland will allow residents in several pilot cities to travel to Taiwan as individuals beginning in the second quarter of 2011, once preparations are finished.