First mainland tourism office opens in Taipei
Updated: 2010-05-08 07:18
(HK Edition)
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A group of 100 mainland tourists take photos of native artistes performing a song-and-dance number at Hualien Airport, eastern Taiwan upon their arrival by chartered flight Friday. Central News Agency |
The mainland's top travel administrator presided over the opening in Taipei Friday of a breakthrough tourism office, the first agency of any kind established by the mainland in Taiwan.
Shao Qiwei, director of Beijing-based National Tourism Administration, officiated at the inaugural ceremony of the Beijing-based Cross-Straits Tourism Association's (CSTA) Taipei office in his capacity as president of the association.
Shao kept a low profile on his arrival in Taiwan earlier in the day, saying he will meet old friends and forge new friendships during his visit.
On Tuesday, the CSTA's Taiwanese counterpart - the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (TSTA) - also opened a representative office in Beijing to promote travel in Taiwan to potential mainland tourists.
The exchange of offices of the two organizations is expected to offer cross-Straits travelers more and better services, Shao said.
The two associations serve as quasi-official intermediary bodies to handle cross-Straits tourist exchanges in the absence of official ties.
China Daily/CNA
(HK Edition 05/08/2010 page4)