台湾业者：“禁团令”难挡民众赴陆热情 应恢复直航点

Core Viewpoint - The "ban on group tours" implemented by Taiwan authorities has not deterred the enthusiasm of Taiwanese citizens to travel to mainland China, and there is a call for the government to lift restrictions and restore direct flights to normalize market mechanisms [1]. Group 1: Policy and Travel Restrictions - The "ban on group tours" was introduced in 2020 by the Taiwanese government citing COVID-19, which restricts travel to mainland China [1]. - In 2024, the travel warning for mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau was raised to "orange," advising citizens to "avoid non-essential travel" [1]. - Despite these restrictions, the demand for travel to mainland China remains strong, with an estimated difference of nearly 3.8 million tourists between Taiwan and mainland China by 2025, resulting in a tourism deficit of 152 billion New Taiwan Dollars [1]. Group 2: Travel Trends and Preferences - Recent travel exhibitions in Kaohsiung show a high interest in destinations like Fujian, with traditional hotspots such as Xiamen and Quanzhou being popular, alongside increasing interest in regions like Xinjiang [1]. - In the past two years, Xinjiang has consistently ranked as the top destination for Taiwanese travelers to mainland China, with cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie also maintaining high popularity [2]. Group 3: Influencing Factors for Travel - The improvement in tourism service quality in mainland China has gained widespread recognition, with many travelers reporting a change in perception after visiting [3]. - The integration of film and tourism has significantly boosted interest in mainland travel, exemplified by the popularity of the Chinese drama "Nan Hong," which has led to a 240% increase in flight searches from Taiwan to Chongqing since March [3]. - Recent measures to facilitate travel, such as fee waivers for the application of Taiwan Compatriot Pass and an increase in the number of ports issuing the pass, have been positively received [3]. Group 4: Travel Logistics - The current limited number of direct flights and routes has made travel more cumbersome, with many Taiwanese travelers needing to transfer flights, which increases travel time significantly [3]. - The number of cross-strait flights operated by China Southern Airlines has only returned to about 35% of pre-pandemic levels, complicating travel plans for Taiwanese citizens [3].