TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai reassured travel agencies on Thursday (Nov. 16) that plans to open group travel to China are on track, following the protocol established in August.
This announcement comes after concerns were raised over a newly disclosed limit restricting Taiwanese travel companies to serve a maximum of 2,000 clients daily.
The transportation department had previously announced on Nov. 3 the decision to allow agencies to facilitate group travel to mainland China starting in March of the following year.
However, the 2,000-person cap, which was not initially mentioned but later specified by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Tuesday, has elicited significant backlash from the industry.
Concerns over economic losses and disruptions to travel plans have arisen among both the industry and travelers due to the news of these travel restrictions.
Chen Chien-chin, a local travel agency manager, voiced apprehension that the cap might result in unrecoverable losses from airfare purchases if clients are unable to travel.
Lee Chi-yuen, the convener of the Travel Agent Association, also pointed out that the cap could particularly affect larger agencies, which usually cater to more than 1,000 clients each.
In response to these concerns, the MAC adjusted its stance late Wednesday, indicating a willingness to consider the industry's actual needs when implementing the limits.
On a related note, the Taiwan Affairs Office of China emphasized that the resurgence of mainland residents traveling to Taiwan for tourism is contingent on the restoration of peaceful and cooperative cross-strait relations.