For the first time in over four years, Kinmen welcomed a tour group from the Chinese mainland on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in cross-Straits relations. The group of more than 20 tourists arrived from Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, embarking on a two-day sightseeing tour of the island.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on August 30 the decision to resume allowing residents of Fujian Province to travel to Kinmen, sparking hopes for renewed exchanges and economic opportunities.
To celebrate the occasion, the Kinmen County government organized a festive welcome at the wharf, featuring a vibrant lion-dance performance and displaying a long red banner. Hsu Chi-hsin, chief of Kinmen’s tourism department, greeted the visitors personally, expressing optimism that this tour would pave the way for smoother and more regular cross-Straits exchanges.
“We hope that after a long absence, the members of this first group will return to Xiamen with fond memories of Kinmen,” the tourism department said in a press release. “By sharing its beauty with friends and family, they can encourage more mainland tourists to visit, boosting Kinmen’s tourism and local industries.”
Chen Yu-jen, a legislator representing Kinmen, urged the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to lift the current ban on tour groups from Taiwan to the mainland as soon as possible. “Reviving tourism is crucial for our local economy,” she stated, highlighting the mutual benefits of open travel between the two sides.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
