Mainland to Develop Tourism Zones on West Side of Taiwan Straits

Tourism experts have approved the feasibility of the plan to develop tourism on the west side of the Taiwan Strait. The plan, which seeks to deepen tourism exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, is expected to be implemented between 2010 and 2020.

The plan for developing tourism zones on the west side of the Taiwan Strait will integrate the tourism resources of 23 cities in four provinces on the mainland, including Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

The plan specifies that three tourism circles featuring the seaside and ecological and cultural landscapes will be created in the area.

Wang Yanyong, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, says the plan presents a good opportunity to enhance tourism cooperation with Taiwan, which is located on the east side of the Taiwan Strait, so as to create a "cross-strait tourism" brand.

"The next step is to take the advantage of the ecological environment and the same cultural roots between the two sides to upgrade tourism products and innovate marketing strategies so as to break a ground for cross-strait tourism."

Wang Zhifa, Vice Chairman of the National Tourism Bureau, says the development of the tourism zones on the west side of the Taiwan Strait, also known as Haixi in Mandarin, will also attract more mainland tourists to Taiwan.

"Now we are stepping up efforts in building Haixi tourism zones. It is of great significance to make cross-strait tourism a world-class tourism route. And the development of the Haixi tourism zones will also encourage more mainland residents to travel in Taiwan, and facilitate cross-strait cooperation in tourism and even broader fields."

Data from the National Tourism Bureau indicate that up to this November, nearly 600,000 mainland tourists have visited Taiwan, one year after the island was opened up to mainland visitors.
The mainland and Taiwan have signed a series of agreements benefiting people from both sides of the strait.

On Tuesday, negotiators from mainland and Taiwan reached three agreements on fishing, farm product and standards measuring.

Chen Yunlin, President of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, signed the pacts on labor cooperation in the fishing industry, on the inspection and quarantine of farm produce, and on standards measuring.

Chen Zhe, CRI News.