Source: CCTV.com

03-31-2008 15:21

Taiwan's newly-elected leader Ma Ying-jeou has promised to allow mainland tourists to visit Taiwan by July. Although Ma has yet to be sworn in, the tourism sector is getting itself ready for some very lucrative business.

Taiwan's newly-elected leader Ma Ying-jeou has promised to allow mainland tourists to visit Taiwan by July. Although Ma has yet to be sworn in, the tourism sector is getting itself ready for some very lucrative business.

Ma Ying-jeou promised that Taiwan would accept 3000 mainland visitors every day starting in July. That number will rise to 5000 in 2009, 7000 in 2010, and 10,000 in 2011.

That move is expected to help the local tourism sector make 2 billion US dollars in revenue this year alone. More than 10 travel agencies applied to receive tourist groups from the mainland in the week following Ma's election to take advantage of the anticipated business.

At the same time, hoteliers and restaurateurs are also preparing to receive mainland visitors. Construction near the famous Sun-Moon Lake has gotten under way in recent days.

One hotel operator said "We have 2500 rooms. I don't think this will be enough in the future. There are more hotels under construction around Sun-Moon Lake."

Official figures show that six new hotels will be built around Sun-Moon Lake in the next three years. And across the island, there are 55 hotels preparing to open. They will provide more than 13,000 rooms.

Editor:Xiong Qu