Taiwan's Tourism Bureau Asks Travel Agencies to "Discourage" Trips to China: What Does This Mean for Travelers?

New directives from the Tourism Bureau raise questions about cross-strait travel and potential impact on Taiwanese travel businesses.

Following President William Lai's speech on March 13th outlining national security concerns and strategies for cross-strait relations, including managing travel to China, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has reportedly sent a communication to travel agencies. The directives, according to reports, urge these agencies to "discourage" Taiwanese citizens from traveling to mainland China.

This move comes after the president's address, which highlighted the importance of raising awareness of potential risks associated with cross-strait exchanges, including travel. The reported communication instructs travel agencies to advise against travel to China.

While the Tourism Bureau's communication is described as a request for "discouragement" rather than a ban, the potential impact on the travel industry is a subject of debate. Councillor Hou Han-ting has voiced concerns, noting that the ban on group tours to China has already heavily affected the sector. He questioned the rationale behind the new directive, which he believes could further hamper revenue for travel agencies that are already struggling to recover.