Taiwan is open to re-establishing direct flights to China, but only if the ban on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan is lifted. That’s according to transportation minister Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材), who made the comments during a session of the legislature.
Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, direct cross-strait flights were possible to 51 places in China and 10 places in Taiwan. At the moment, only four direct flights are available. China has proposed to re-open direct flights to 16 locations, but has not lifted the 2019 ban which prevents Chinese individual and group tourists from visiting Taiwan. Wang said that discussions about re-opening the direct flights are being undertaken with the Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council.
The tourism industry in Taiwan has suffered greatly during the pandemic, and the government has been aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels of incoming tourists. This has included offers of a NT$5000 credit to international tourists visiting Taiwan.