On September 27, the long-awaited travel from residents of Fujian Province to Kinmen officially resumed. With the October holiday just around the corner, Kinmen is set to receive a wave of mainland tourists, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.
The main goal of fostering relations between the mainland and Taiwan is to enhance the well-being of both sides. The resumption of travel for Fujian residents to Kinmen, following the reopening to Matsu, serves as a goodwill initiative aimed at normalizing tourism across the strait.
What makes cross-strait tourism so crucial? For starters, it significantly impacts tourism operators and related sectors such as transportation, accommodations, dining, and insurance. Research indicates that around 90% of nearly 4,000 tourism businesses in Taiwan engage in activities linked to the mainland. Historically, these businesses have reaped economic benefits from mainland visitors. However, in recent years, tourism in places like Kinmen has faced severe challenges due to strained cross-strait relations and the COVID-19 pandemic. This has left related industries eager for the return of mainland tourists to kickstart recovery and stimulate economic growth.
Moreover, cross-strait tourism exchange promotes economic and cultural collaboration, fostering deeper integration across various sectors. Tourism and culture are deeply intertwined; shared cultural heritage between both sides can strengthen bonds. Kinmen, for example, can capitalize on its geographical proximity to collaboratively develop a “Kinmen-Xiamen Living Circle,” generating additional advantages for residents on both sides. Additionally, both regions can learn from one another to enhance the quality of tourism, aiming to offer superior experiences to visitors and foster high-quality growth in the tourism market.
Furthermore, cross-strait tourism exchange plays a vital role in maintaining friendships between the people on both sides, contributing to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Face-to-face interactions allow individuals to connect on a more personal level, building trust and understanding. This mutual comprehension is essential for nurturing goodwill and preserving peace between the two sides.
Regarding the influx of mainland tourists to Kinmen, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, mentioned on September 25 that more mainland visitors are anticipated in Kinmen. She expressed hope that they would enjoy a positive travel experience and urged the Taiwan authorities to focus on the well-being of people on both sides to facilitate smooth tourism exchanges.
On the other hand, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has not yet lifted restrictions on group travel for Taiwanese citizens to the mainland, continuing to perpetuate ideological narratives that provoke anti-mainland sentiments among its citizens. Such measures only serve to heighten tensions between the two sides.
Maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait is a hard-won achievement that deserves careful consideration. The mainland is genuinely committed to reinstating cross-strait exchanges and hopes the DPP will embrace the prevailing Taiwanese sentiment that favors peace, development, exchange, and cooperation. This alignment could greatly benefit Taiwan’s tourism industry and deepen understanding, contributing to the ongoing maintenance of peace and stability across the Strait.