Individual travel to Taiwan suspended

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has suspended independent tourist travel to Taiwan.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing. The change took effect Aug. 1.
• Visas/permits affected: Individual entry permits to Taiwan.
• Who is affected: Mainland Chinese residents planning travel to Taiwan.
• Business impact: The business impact is minimal because even before the suspension Mainland Chinese residents were required to obtain business visa endorsements in order to conduct business activities in Taiwan.

Additional information: Mainland Chinese residents are generally required to obtain permission before traveling to Taiwan. Beginning in 2011, residents of 47 mainland cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, were able to apply for individual entry permits to Taiwan. This program has been suspended, however, with authorities citing the current state of relations between Mainland China and Taiwan in their decision to stop individual travel.

Analysis & Comments: While Mainland Chinese residents planning to visit Taiwan as tourists now must go as part of a group, there is no impact on business travel. There has also been no change to travel procedures for Mainland Chinese residents visiting Hong Kong or Macau for tourism or business.

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