Chinese tourists head to Taiwan on landmark trip

Two local tourism staffers standby behind a welcoming tourists desk at Taoyuan airport
©AFP/File - Sam Yeh

BEIJING (AFP) - Mainland Chinese tourists flew out for Taiwan early Friday on the first regular direct service in decades, a milestone that is part of a dramatic recent thawing in ties between the long-time rivals.

The direct flights were a key component of a campaign promise made by new Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to quickly improve relations with Beijing, which remain rocky since the two sides split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

The first flight, operated by China Southern Airlines, left the southern city of Guangzhou at 6:31 am (2231 GMT), China's state Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 100 mainland tourists were aboard the Airbus A330 plane, which was carrying a total of 258 passengers and was due to arrive at Taoyuan international airport outside Taipei at 8:10 am, the report added.

"I have been expecting to visit Taiwan, the Treasure Island, and my dream will finally come true today," Chinese tourist Shi Anwei was quoted as saying.

A bank staff checks the foreign currency on a monitor at Taoyuan airport in Taiwan
©AFP/File - Sam Yeh

"I was too excited to sleep last night."

Taiwanese authorities plan to roll out the red carpet for the mainland holidaymakers, with a traditional lion dance and a "water sprinkling ceremony" to greet the visitors, followed by a lavish gala banquet.

More than 700 Chinese nationals will travel on Friday to the self-ruled island from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and two other cities.

Meanwhile, a Taiwan-based China Airlines jet carrying 297 Taiwanese tourists left Taoyuan airport for Shanghai at 7:30 am. Eight other flights from various airports in Taiwan will fly to Beijing, Guanzhou and Xiamen Friday.

"I am thrilled to take the first mainland-bound flight in this new charter service," said Zhou Wan-rong, chairman of Chinghua University's student association.

Taiwan banned direct trade and transport links following its split from the communist mainland, but Ma's election in March opened the door to warmer ties after a frosty period under his pro-independence predecessor Chen Shui-bian.

Map showing the first direct flights between modern China and Taiwan
©AFP

The two sides held their first direct talks in a decade last month, which led to the flights agreement, putting an end to the time-consuming stopovers travellers were forced to make for years in Hong Kong or elsewhere.

There will be a total of 36 round-trip flights across the Taiwan Strait weekly, operating from Friday to Monday. They will fly between six Taiwanese airports and five mainland ones.

On Friday alone, there will be 18 round-trip flights.

The deal will increase the number of tourists making the trip from both sides to 3,000 -- which is expected to give a much-needed boost to Taiwan's sluggish economy.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. But ties between Beijing and Taipei have improved markedly in recent months.

Taiwan banks can now exchange Chinese currency, limits on Taiwanese investment on the mainland have been eased, and some Chinese media outlets which had been banned on the island now have clearance to work.

Sumber: www.afp.com