TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In response to the forthcoming ban on travel agencies organizing tours to China starting in June, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) Minister Wang Kwo-tsai emphasized on Wednesday (March 6) that any change to the ban will depend on goodwill gestures from China.
Taiwan had initially planned to allow travel agencies to organize tours to China in March; however, this plan was abandoned due to China not opening its borders to Taiwanese travel groups, conflicts with the M503 flight path, and Nauru cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Minister Wang also noted that from March 1 to the end of the month, the agency anticipates 4,000 group tours, totaling about 100,000 people, will head to China. Travel agencies have been restricted from recruiting for tours taking place after June.
In addressing the situation post-June, Minister Wang reiterated that adjustments to the ban would be subject to China's discretion. The MOTC has also requested travel agencies to consolidate tours scheduled after June 1 into groups departing between March 1 and May 31.