Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Taiwan restricts Chinese tourists from political activities

Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) promulgated Wednesday a set of rules defining the scope of activities Chinese tourists can be involved in, listing four forbidden activities for them in Taiwan, including participating in political rallies.
According to the NIA, Chinese visitors in Taiwan are prohibited from taking part in activities harmful to national security, such as participating in political activities, or attending political talk shows and election campaigns. They are also forbidden from working in return for pay.

The rules were announced as Taiwan is seeing an increasing number of Chinese tourists -- an average of 2,518 a day in the first nine months of this year -- after two sides signed an agreement to boost tourism in 2008 and after direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China were expanded in July 2009. In essence, Chinese tourists in Taiwan must abide by the agreement inked by Taiwan and China about Chinese people sightseeing in Taiwan Chiu Hsin-ying, a NIA section chief in charge of inbound and outbound affairs, said.

Although the government has not allowed Chinese people to come to Taiwan on their own without joining tour groups, Chinese tourists currently visiting Taiwan on group tours have free time aside from their tour package itinerary.

In conjunction with Taiwan's authorities, China-based travel agencies are required to introduce the rules to their clients before they come to Taiwan, Chiu said, adding that any Chinese visitor who fails to follow the regulations will be asked to leave Taiwan.

Serious violations will be dealt with by law, Chiu said.

(By S. H. Lin and Flor Wang)

Source: etaiwannews.com/

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