Taiwan set to provide landing visas to mainland tourists

Chinese tourists visit Yangming Mountain, a popular tourist attraction in Taipei. Taiwan said it plans to offer landing visas to Chinese mainland tourists travelling to two Taiwanese islands off the mainland. (AFP/Patrick Lin)

TAIPEI - Taiwan said Tuesday it plans to offer landing visas to Chinese mainland tourists travelling to two Taiwanese islands off the mainland, in another goodwill gesture to Beijing.

The proposal, expected to be approved at the cabinet's regular meeting Thursday, calls for granting landing visas to mainland tourists who visit Kinmen and Matsu, off China's southeastern Fujian Province, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said.

However, the planned measure will not allow mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan, it said. They will still need to get Taipei's visa prior to their tour of Taiwan.

The proposal is the latest in a string of olive branches from Taipei to Beijing since Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou took the office on May 20.

The two sides launched regular direct flights for the first time in nearly six decades in July.

(Agencies)