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Tourism Bureau to cut limits on Chinese independent visitors

September data show sharp drop in number of travelers from China

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Tourism Bureau to cut limits on Chinese independent visitors

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Tourism Bureau said Tuesday it wanted to relax restrictions on independent visitors from China in an effort to counter the fall in groups from that country.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan in September fell by 37.79 percent to about 214,000 from 345,000 during the same month last year, according to data released by the Tourism Bureau. The fall has been linked to alleged efforts by the Chinese authorities to damage the less China-friendly administration of President Tsai Ing-wen which took office last May.

Likely changes include a relaxation of the maximum 15-day period that independent visitors from China are allowed to stay in Taiwan. A minimum requirement of NT$200,000 (US$6,330) in savings or the possession of a gold card issued by a bank for the independent travelers could also be changed, reports said.

Tourism Bureau Director-General Chou Yung-hui said the number of South Korean and Thai visitors had increased by between 50 and 60 percent during the same period, though the recent passing of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej could influence the number of Thai planning to travel overseas in the near future.

In recent years, the total number of foreign visitors in Taiwan reached about 10 million.