TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China has not responded to Taiwan's invitation for tourism dialogue, the Tourism Administration (觀光署) confirmed Monday (Dec. 15). The Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (台旅會) reached out to the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits (海旅會), China's designated contact unit for cross-strait tourism matters, to discuss cooperation. The Tourism Administration, under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), said Beijing's silence comes as Taiwan seeks to boost visitor numbers following the pandemic. The outreach began in February 2025, yet China has not replied.
The administration stated that the government remains committed to a healthy and orderly recovery of cross-strait tourism and welcomes Chinese tourists to Taiwan. Taiwan seeks to normalize travel exchanges between the two sides through dialogue between the tourism associations. The administration underlined the importance of communication to ensure tourism safety, quality, stability, and fairness.
The administration pledged to ensure the safety of Taiwanese travelers to China and promote group travel communication through the tourism associations. Taiwan's visitor numbers have struggled post-pandemic, with the government estimating fewer than 9 million tourists will visit in 2025. Authorities have opened the door for a third category of Chinese tourists and allowed travel to Kinmen and Matsu, Taiwan's outlying islands near China. ◼