Tourism Bureau may ease travel for independent Chinese tourists

The Tourism Bureau said Tuesday that it is considering working with other government agencies to extend the legal stays for independent Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan to boost the market, which continues to stagnate.

Bureau Deputy Director-General Chang Hsi-tsung (???) said the bureau hopes that the current limit of 15 days can be extended to 30 days.

Chang said the bureau will discuss the issue with the National Immigration Agency and the Mainland Affairs Council.

The same proposal was raised two years ago but was not accepted, Chang added.

The agencies will also review other constraints on independent Chinese tourists, including that such tourists are required to have a deposit of at least NT$200,000 (US$6,336) or bank cards, to be allowed to visit Taiwan independently, he said.

According to bureau data, the number of Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan in September stood at 214,764, down 37.79 percent year-on-year.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel