At the May 20 State Council Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, a reporter asked: The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism recently announced that Shanghai residents may apply to travel to Kinmen and Matsu. On the 11th, the first group of Shanghai tourists arrived in Kinmen and returned to Shanghai on the 13th. Taiwan media reported that this brought a “spring swallow” for the local tourism industry, and the Kinmen County Government said it plans to hold four rounds of Kinmen tourism promotion events this year and will actively expand the mainland tourism market. What is your comment? What steps will be taken next to better restore and develop cross-Strait tourism exchanges?
State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in response that the mainland is pleased to see the resumption of travel by Shanghai residents to Kinmen and Matsu, as well as the positive response from Kinmen. This fully shows the strong expectations of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, especially Kinmen residents, for the normalization of cross-Strait travel and the regularization of exchanges and cooperation.
Zhu said that the mainland is willing to actively promote anything that helps improve the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait and facilitates exchanges. It will take active measures to support and encourage stronger people-to-people interaction and exchanges across the Strait. Taiwan’s relevant authorities should follow public opinion, face up to the calls from Taiwan’s tourism industry and public, lift unreasonable bans and restrictions as soon as possible, and promote the restoration of normal cross-Strait tourism exchanges.