Regarding the ongoing issue with cross-strait tourism, Cabinet Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said in an interview with media on Wednesday that Taiwan’s doors are wide open and expressed his hope that tourists, students, and other travelers will come rather than military aircraft and warships. He reiterated that there is no ban on Taiwanese group tours and that they are free to visit China.
On Thursday, DPP legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said that the ruling party’s position is to conduct cross-strait changes in an equal and dignified manner. He added that the main obstacle to cross-strait tourism is not Taiwan’s government, but China’s. KMT legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) asked for further clarification on when Taiwan’s ban on tour groups was lifted, and whether it was done so quietly without informing the public.
Cho explained that Taiwanese group tours to China that were organized prior to June 1 have been allowed to proceed as planned in order to protect the rights and interests of tourists and travel agencies. As for China, they do not currently allow Chinese tour groups or individual travelers to visit Taiwan.