The 8th Cross-Strait Taipei International Travel Fair Inaugurates

On October 18-21, the 8th Cross-Strait Taipei International Travel Fair was co-presented by the Association For Tourism Exchange Across The Taiwan Straits (ATETS) and Taiwan Visitors Association (TVA) in Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall.

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In the inauguration in the morning of October 18, Mr. Wang Zhifa, Vice Chairman of CNTA and Honorary Vice Chairman of ATETS, and Mr. Xie Weijun, President of Taiwan Strait Tourism Association, addressed the ceremony and cut the ribbons together with Chairwoman Ms. Lai Sezhen and Honorary Chairman Mr. Zhang Xuelao of TVA as well as representatives of the tourism circle from the Mainland and Taiwan.

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In his speech, Mr. Wang Zhifa said that, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides of the Strait and support from related parties, the Mainland and Taiwan saw healthy development of tourism exchange and cooperation, and mutually contributed major visitor sources. The number of visitors between the two parties had increased from 4.7 million in 2008 to 7.92 million in 2012, exhibiting an annual growth rate of 14%. Tourism had become a major channel for travelers across the Strait.

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According to Mr. Xie Weijun, the Fair was of special significance in this year, because the tourism authorities of both sides of the Strait had adopted important standardization measures to protect tourists’ rights and interests. The tourism sector of both sides should take the opportunity during such a transformation, make good use of the Fair, and attach joint efforts to present diverse tourism products, so as to further develop the tourism market.

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According to insiders, during the Fair there were 232 booths for the Mainland totaling 3,816 square meters and involving 29 provinces, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps and enterprises in tourism circle with over 700 participants, the largest Mainland group among all cross-Strait tourism exchanges. While for Taiwan there were 135 booths totaling 1,956 square meters participated by major travel agencies, hotels and tourist attractions.