HONG KONG: The number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan topped 100,000 for the first time since non-stop cross-Straits charters started last July.

The mainland-based Cross-Straits Tourism Exchange Association said 4,105 mainland tours, accommodating 106,711 tourists, visited Taiwan from July 18, 2008, to March 12. That averages out to 447 tourists per day.

A mainland health food company is organizing a trip for its 6,000 employees this year. A first group of 1,600 Amway China employees made a direct cruise trip on Monday. Amway China, the mainland operation of the US direct selling giant Amway Corporation, plans to bring nine groups, around 12,000 employees, to major attractions on the island.

Janice Lai, director general of Taiwan's tourism bureau, said the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan is growing while mainland traveller arrivals in March hit the target of 1,000 per day. She expects more than 2,000 mainland tourists will visit Taiwan in the next few days. The tourism bureau estimated the number of mainland visitors will top 3,000 per day in April.

The number may surge to 4,800 on Sunday alone, when the second group of 1,600 Amway employees arrives at Keelung harbor, near Taipei, from Shanghai.

Fifteen tour groups arrived in Central Taiwan on March 19, the first to visit the central part of the island.

Tour groups are gradually expanding to more spots across the island, allowing different cities to share in the business opportunities, Lai said.

Mainland tours may also boost Taiwan's ailing economy. The large group of Amway China visitors is expected to generate NT$650 million ($19.22 million) in revenue for the retail industry.

Average visitor spending was around NT$9,000 per day during the Chinese New Year holiday, the island's tourism authority said in February.

Lu Shao-yuan, a resident in Taipei, told China Daily that he welcomes mainland tourists, since they will help promote tourism on the island.

"Their consuming power is pretty good, which will bring a positive impact to the local economy," Lu said.

He added that he would support more visits from mainland tourists in near future, since it will help boost spending in Taiwan.

(HK Edition 03/21/2009 page4)