TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Tourism agencies in Fujian (福建) and Shanghai (上海) mobilized swiftly following China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism's (文旅部) announcement to allow group tours to Taiwan. Separate groups from Shanghai and Fujian have plans to visit Taiwan just before Valentine's Day, according to reports.
The Shanghai Tourism Association (上海觀光協會) intends to bring a delegation on Feb. 13, while Fujian agencies aim to enter via Kaohsiung (高雄) on Feb. 12. Both agencies have already applied for entry with Taiwan's Tourism Administration (觀光署).
An industry insider revealed that the Shanghai Tourism Association is leading the initiative, organizing a familiarization trip for major travel agencies. This visit aligns with post-Twin Cities Forum exchanges. Meanwhile, nearly 40 travel industry representatives from Fujian plan to explore new post-pandemic attractions in Taiwan. They will participate in promotional meetings across southern, central, and northern Taiwan.
The tourism industry reported a surge in Taiwanese outbound travel in 2024, with nearly 16.63 million trips, marking a historic high. Among these, 6.04 million Taiwanese visited Japan. However, foreign tourist arrivals in Taiwan fell short of 8 million, resulting in a tourism deficit of nearly US$22 billion (NT$721 billion). Historically, the peak era of Chinese tourists saw 4.5 million annual visits to Taiwan, with extensive flight connections and free travel from 47 pilot cities.