100 Chinese weddings in Taiwan

For the first time since the civil war ended in 1949, Taiwan has announced it will allow independent tourists from Mainland China to enter the island. It is a move that has been brought in with hopes to boost the island’s tourism industry and economy as well as aiding long-term political relations between Taiwan and China.

The excitement over the loosened regulations has been felt throughout Taiwan and Mainland China, with Chinese tourists looking forward to travelling to an island they haven’t seen since their childhood, meeting old friends or relatives or just exploring the island that is so close to home yet has been so hard to get to.

In a sign of the improving relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China, over one hundred Chinese couples are expected to marry in Tainan County in southern Taiwan during autumn in a symbolic group wedding. ‘This is a very meaningful event as the first group wedding of Chinese couples in Taiwan,’ said mayor Lai Ching-te. ‘We hope it will help to boost Tainan’s visibility.’

Earlier this month it was announced that 500 independent travelers would be allowed to travel per day from Mainland China, marking the end to previous regulations which only allowed Chinese travelers into Taiwan in strictly controlled group tours. These solo Chinese travelers are now able to stay as long as 15 days in Taiwan, enabling them to get to know the island and its culture that has been so hard to reach for the last sixty years.

Chinese tourists have a big reputation for shopping, heading to hot spots such as Hong Kong or Hainan Province to seek out bargain deals at duty-free shopping complexes. Taiwan’s hotels, restaurants, food stalls, tea shops and department stores are set to benefit from the increase of Chinese tourists.

Spokeswoman for Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau, Chen Chiong-hua estimated that travelers were expected to spend an average of $245 per day, which will generate an estimated $315 to $675 million per year.

According to Taiwan’s top China policymaker, Lai Shin-yuan, Chinese tourists spend 80 percent of their money shopping, compared with US and European travelers who spend only 20 percent. The previously restricted group tours rely primarily on the same hotels, transport and tour agencies, so revenue has been limited and has not reached the rest of the country. ‘The economic effects have been huge,’ said Ms. Lai. We want not only to expand those but expand them to the grassroots of our society.’

‘We believe that once the individual visitor scheme starts, the daily limit and other conditions will be loosened, benefiting the Taiwan hotel sector and retailers in the long term,’ said Yoshihiko Kawashima, an analyst at Daiwa-Cathay Capital Markets Co. Ltd.

Amongst the joy and freedom that the decision has aroused, there are still plenty of people who hold doubts about opening Taiwan up to China. Some fear that China will use the newly forming relations to take over the island through military or economic might, and many are worried that the common language may enable fierce arguments with Taiwanese anti-China activists.

The group wedding to be held over autumn, however, reflects a very different atmosphere, one of hope and of mutual trust. Travel between Taiwan and Mainland China has also been made more accessible with direct flights between Taiwan and China opening up last year, cutting a 7 hour trip via Hong Kong to a mere 80 minute flight.