Shanghai influencer Kong Tong ignites travel excitement as Taiwan reopens for group adventures, offering a fresh start for cross-Strait tourism and exploration.

Shanghai-based travel influencer Kong Tong has been closely monitoring the recent developments regarding the resumption of group tours from mainland China to Taiwan.

Kong, a devoted traveler and content creator, dreams of being among the first to visit Taiwan with her son if the restrictions on mainland tourists are lifted. The ban, imposed by Taiwan authorities in 2020, had effectively halted such visits, severing a key connection between mainland residents and the island.

On Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that group tours to Taiwan would soon restart for residents of Fujian and Shanghai. This significant step signals a move towards restoring normal relations across the Taiwan Strait, which have been strained by policies of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Kong, known for sharing her travel adventures online, expressed excitement at the opportunity to showcase Taiwan’s charm to her followers. For her, the renewed accessibility offers a unique chance for mainland audiences to experience the island through her perspective.

The announcement has also sparked enthusiasm within the mainland tourism sector, which has long awaited the chance to reconnect with Taiwan, a favored destination before the 2020 restrictions. Within hours of the news, searches for “travel to Taiwan” surged on Ctrip, China’s leading travel platform. Similarly, Qunar reported a notable increase in flight inquiries to Taipei from cities like Shanghai, Fuzhou, and Xiamen.

Luo Ying, marketing director of Xiamen Airlines International Travel Service Co., highlighted the appeal of Taiwan for Fujian residents due to its proximity and shared cultural heritage. Luo noted that their company, which has organized group tours to Taiwan since 2008, is actively collaborating with local partners in Taiwan to develop fresh travel experiences.

Mainland experts see the resumption of group tours as a positive gesture, addressing the expectations of Taiwan’s tourism sector for the return of mainland visitors. Wang Zhenwei, a senior researcher at Xiamen University’s Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies, emphasized the economic importance of this development, pointing out that over 4,000 Taiwanese travel agencies rely heavily on mainland tourists.

Wang added that the mainland’s willingness to foster peaceful, integrated growth across the Strait has been well-received by Taiwan’s tourism professionals. Similarly, Zhu Songling, a professor at Beijing Union University, noted that the return of mainland tourists reflects the island’s public preference for peace, development, and cross-Strait cooperation.

Zhu stressed the importance of Taiwan’s DPP authorities recognizing these sentiments and responding constructively to the mainland’s goodwill by removing barriers that hinder people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

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