What will be the impact of the first suspension of cross-strait travel exhibitions in 12 years on Taiwan’s tourism industry?

The mainland has decided not to participate in the "Cross-Strait Taipei Travel Exhibition", an annual event for the cross-strait tourism industry, setting a new example of cross-strait non-governmental tourism exchanges in 12 years. Taiwanese media stated on August 23, 2017 that since this is the largest cross-strait tourism exchange platform, once it is stopped, it may affect the subsequent cross-strait tourism exchanges and development.

The Cross-Strait Taipei Travel Exhibition, entering its 12th year, has confirmed to be suspended this year. Mainland China was invited to participate in February and March this year. The two sides held the first docking meeting in July, but no consensus was reached until mid-August. Considering the tight time, we could not wait any longer, so we had to give up the booth to other parties. industry. Although it is suspended for the first time in 12 years, mainland China will continue to be invited to participate next year.

The Taiwan Tourism Association is composed of representatives from airlines, tourist hotels, hotels, travel agencies, and catering industries on the island. Many of its presidents are retired tourism directors and have good relationships with tourism units and businesses on the island and abroad. .

Cross-strait tourism has entered a cold winter, and the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan continues to shrink. The authorities have turned to the "new southbound" tourist sources, targeting the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia and India, and actively publicized and relaxed "visa" measures for coming to Taiwan. The number of tourists on the "new southbound" route is already small. Even if it were doubled, it would still be less than the one-month reduction in mainland tourists. It would be difficult to make up for the tourism losses caused by the sharp reduction in mainland tourists.

Data show that in the first half of 2017, the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan was 1.265 million, a 40% decrease from the same period last year. Officials from the "Ministry of Transportation" estimate that the number of mainland tourists coming to Taiwan this year will be 1 million fewer than last year, and Taiwan's tourism revenue will be reduced by NT$42.65 billion.