Shanghai Deputy Mayor Hua Yuan (華源) announced Tuesday at the 15th Twin City Forum plans to promote Shanghai residents group tours to Taiwan. In response, Taiwan’s Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said during a legislative meeting on Wednesday that Taiwan welcomes such proposals.
Chen underscored the Transportation Ministry’s open attitude toward Chinese tourists and welcomed Shanghai's gesture of goodwill. He expressed regret over China's restrictions on both group tours and individual travel to Taiwan, which have significantly reduced Chinese tourist numbers. Chen noted, however, that further discussions depend on the decisions of China’s Culture and Tourism Ministry and urged Beijing to remove political barriers to facilitate freer travel for Chinese visitors.
During the meeting, Legislator Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔) inquired about Taiwan’s lack of response to previous goodwill measures from China, such as the opening of travel for Fujian residents to Kinmen and Matsu. Chen clarified that lifting Taiwan’s ban on group tours to China requires broader governmental decisions, adding that ensuring Taiwanese travelers’ safety in China remains a priority amid reports of detentions and interrogations.