Kinmen on Sunday welcomed its first tour group from the Chinese mainland in more than four years, marking a significant step towards renewed cross-Straits exchanges. The group of over 20 tourists arrived in Kinmen from Xiamen, Fujian Province, for a two-day sightseeing tour.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on August 30 the decision to resume allowing residents in Fujian Province to travel to Kinmen, opening doors for increased tourism and cultural exchange. To greet the visitors, the Kinmen County government organized a vibrant lion-dance performance at the wharf, accompanied by a long red banner celebrating the occasion.
Hsu Chi-hsin, chief of Kinmen's tourism department, expressed optimism during the welcome ceremony, sharing hopes that this tour would pave the way for smoother and more regular interactions between the two regions. “We hope that after a long absence, the members of this first group will return to Xiamen with fond memories of Kinmen, sharing its beauty with friends and family, encouraging more mainland tourists to visit, and boosting Kinmen's tourism and local industries,” the tourism department stated in a press release.
In a related development, Chen Yu-jen, a Kinmen legislator, urged the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to lift the current ban on tour groups from Taiwan to the mainland as soon as possible, advocating for enhanced mutual accessibility and understanding.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
