Is China sending fewer tourists to Taiwan? March 20 a day to watch

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/03/10
By: Chen Chia-lun and S.C. Chang

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Is China reducing its “tourist quota” for Taiwan? A Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said March 20 will be “a day to watch.”

MAC Chief Secretary Yang Chia-chun (楊家駿) said Thursday from Jan. 1 to March 8, Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan have increased by 8.9 percent from the same period of last year while those applying to come have fallen by 1.45 percent.

Chinese “group” tourists are usually busy on their way to Taiwan before March 30 while “independent” ones pack Taiwan tourism spots by March 23.

In reply to media questions of whether Beijing will drastically cut from 47 to four the number of cities authorized to send tourists across the Taiwan Strait, Yang said rumors to that effect have been swirling for three months.     [FULL  STORY]