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Taiwan tourism sector set for mainland wave

By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-08 07:42

onomy," Tsang said.

To make it convenient for mainland tourists to spend and shop on the island, Taiwan on June 30 allowed its banks to trade in renminbi, the mainland currency.

The central bank allowed 13 banks and their 1,500 branches to buy and sell renminbi and permitted 50 airport duty-free shops, hotels and tourist resorts to accept renminbi from mainland tourists.

Some Taiwan hotels and tourist destinations have also provided mainland tour groups with introductions and pamphlets in simplified Chinese, which is forbidden on the island.

Local media reported that the Tainan county government had even authorized hotels in the county to independently decide whether to fly the five-star national flag of the People's Republic of China if they want to please mainland tourists.

Chang Shui-yuen, like other restaurateurs, has begun to study eating habits of mainlanders from different regions in a bid to attract them.

Visitors walk around in Yehliu Geo Park in Taipei county, Taiwan July 5, 2008. A group of 760 Chinese mainland tourists started a historic journey to Taiwan last Friday and was warmly welcomed at every stop around the island. [Xinhua]

"I have learned from reading books and talking with a number of tourist guides that Sichuan people love spicy food, people from southern provinces like delicate and sweet dishes, and those from northern provinces take more salt in their cuisine," Chang said.

A number of local hotels and restaurants have also sent their chefs on study trips in the mainland.

Zhang Beiying, vice-chairman of the China International Travel Service Group Corporation, thought highly of the hospitality and the efforts of his Taiwan counterparts to treat the mainland tourists.

"All members of the inaugural tour group have felt the warmth and sincerity of our hosts here," said Zhang.

He said the enthusiasm among mainland tourists has been extremely high.

In Guangdong province, which has been given a quota of 100 participants for the inaugural tour group, said the number of applicants had exceeded 10,000.

More than 50 million mainland people have expressed their wish to visit Taiwan, a recent mainland survey found.

That means it will take 50 years for Taiwan to absorb all the potential visitors if the current daily quota of 3,000 remains unchanged.

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