If Taiwan-China trade begins to go the way of cross-Strait tourism, it’s likely that the relationship is headed for even more difficult times, argues Adam Hatch.

The News Lens
Date: 2017/08/31
By: Adam Hatch

In July this year I finished my Master’s degree at National Chengchi University in the

Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像

International Master’s of Asia-Pacific Studies program (IMAS). The final thrust of my studies was a thesis, my topic being Chinese tourism in Taiwan and its relationship to China-Taiwan relations as a whole. I researched the subject for more than six months and interviewed a range of experts, including general managers of hotels, tourism sector association heads, academics, and expatriate business people.

Chinese tourism in Taiwan is a touchy subject and the conversation is clouded by poorly sourced information and prejudiced thinking. This thesis mostly covers 2015 to the present, but it also includes some historical analysis and a few predictions and policy recommendations. While its scope is modest, the findings are a useful entry into the discussion about Chinese tourism in Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]