According to reports from Taiwan's CTnews, the number of visits by Taiwan residents to the Chinese mainland from January to October in 2018 increased by more than 220,000 compared to the same period in 2017, and Chinese mainland has seen more than 4 million trips by Taiwan residents for the first time in 2018. It is thought that this number will continue to grow in 2019.
A survey conducted by the Taiwan's transportation department shows that Taiwan's outbound tourism from January to October 2018 increased in general compared to the same period in 2017. Among the most popular places for this outbound tourism was Chinese mainland. In total, from January to October 2018, more than 3.52 million trips were made by Taiwan residents to the mainland, which is an increase of 6.85 percent over 2017. Although it is important to note that this figure incoporates people making multiple trips over the period. It had been estimated by Taiwan's tourism industry that the number of trips made by Taiwan residents to the mainland in 2018 would breakthrough the psycholologically important 4 million number for the first time.
Multiple preferential policies
To date, multiple preferential policies have been taken to boost the future of cross-Strait relations and developments. According to Xinhua, five new cross-Strait exchange bases were approved to increase communication between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, including the Beijing-based Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
In addition, a new regulation implemented on September 1, 2018 has allowed Taiwan residents to apply for residence permits in the Chinese mainland. That means people from Taiwan could share the mainland's development opportunities and enjoy the same treatment as mainland residents when they live in the mainland.
This new regulation also provides more convenience to people from Taiwan in terms of their study, work and daily life in the mainland, as well as brings more benefits to the Taiwan's tourism industry.
In 2018, a growing number of young people from Taiwan pursued studies, internships, jobs as well as travel on the mainland. It's expected that the Chinese mainland would see more Taiwan residents in the coming years.
