TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China (中國大陸文化和旅遊部) announced plans on Wednesday (Feb. 4) to resume travel for Shanghai residents to Kinmen and Matsu in near future. The decision, aimed at normalizing cross-strait people-to-people exchanges, comes amid ongoing preparations and a call for enhanced communication between tourism industries on both sides.
The announcement follows a forum held by think tanks from the Communist Party of China (CPC, 中國共產黨) and the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) on Feb. 3 in Beijing. The forum resulted in 15 joint opinions, including a push to normalize cross-strait personnel exchanges. Xinhua News Agency (新華社) reported that the forum's recommendations include the swift restoration of cross-strait sea and air passenger transportation.
The proposed measures would allow airlines from both sides to adjust their route networks based on market demand. Also, the plan grants port and shipping operators the autonomy to arrange their schedules. Meanwhile, cross-strait tourism is currently limited to Chinese tourists entering Taiwan via third destinations, as well as group tours and individual travelers from Fujian traveling to Kinmen and Matsu. On Taiwan's side, the government has not restricted Taiwanese individuals from traveling independently to China, but the ban on group tours remains.
Taiwan's Tourism Administration (觀光署) noted in late January that the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (TSTA, 台灣海峽兩岸觀光旅遊協會) already contacted its Chinese counterpart, China's Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits (ATEATS, 海峽兩岸旅遊交流協會), in February 2025 to express willingness to engage in dialogue and outline proposed discussion regarding cross-strait tourism exchanges. However, the ATEATS side has yet to respond.