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Kinmen, Matsu and Penhu may open to individual mainland tourists

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-08 14:27

Taiwan is considering allowing individual mainland tourists to travel in Kinmen, Matsu and Penhu islands, Taiwan media reported Tuesday.

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As of now, only group tours, comprising a minimum of five tourists, are permitted to travel to Taiwan.

Taiwan's tourism authorities will evaluate the feasibility of opening individual tours in Kinmen, Matsu and Penhu to mainland visitors, the report said.

Liu Chao-shiuan, head of Taiwan's "Executive Yuan", said it was a good idea to open Matsu to mainland tourists since there is a slogan already in place that says, "Matsu and Mawei should open direct links first".

Meanwhile, Liu approved a long-term economic development plan for Kinmen and Matsu. Under the plan, any disputed cross-Straits cooperation practice could undergo a trial operation in Kinmen and Matsu.