KINMEN (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislator Chen Yu-chen (陳玉珍) and Kinmen County Council (金門縣議會) Speaker Hung Yun-tien (洪允典) will lead a delegation to Beijing on Wednesday (Aug. 21), aiming to revive cross-strait tourism.
The two will be accompanied by 20 officials and tourism industry representatives from Kinmen and Taiwan.
Chen emphasized the importance of continuous efforts to improve cross-strait relations, stating, "The revival of good cross-strait relations needs to be passed from one to the next," adding that she hopes to welcome Chinese tourists to Kinmen before the National Day holiday in China.
Chen also plans to discuss with China's Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) the possibility of Taiwan allowing tour groups if China opens its tourism to Taiwan.
She noted that recent humanitarian interactions, despite past incidents like the "Feb. 14 Kinmen-Xiamen Ferry Incident" and a stranded Taiwanese fisherman, indicate that positive interactions can improve relations.
Chen mentioned the pandemic's impact on tourism, pointing out how the COVID-19 pandemic blocked cross-strait tourism. Despite challenges, the Legislative Yuan passed a resolution in July urging the government to lift restrictions on group tours to China and prioritize opening the mini-three links for tourism in Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu.
Chen plans to propose additional initiatives, such as allowing Chinese students to study in Kinmen, establishing an agricultural and fishery trade platform in the Kinmen-Xiamen maritime area, and suggesting that Kinmen’s financial institutions set up branches in Xiamen.