Chinese tourists in Taiwan enjoy political talk-shows on TV
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Nearly 2,000 Chinese will arrive in Taiwan this weekend as part of the second wave of tourists from the mainland after the inauguration on 4 July of historic charter flights between Beijing and Taipei.
Taiwan tour guides told to shun politics and other sensitive issues. But the first batch of mainland tourists seem to have taken to political talk shows on Taiwanese TV, so much so that they were eager to get back to their hotel after dinner to watch TV rather than go sightseeing at night.
From 6 pm till midnight many Taiwan stations carry talk shows that focus on politics and current affairs, with heated debating and fierce criticism, something quite different from the more mellow tones found on state-run channels on the mainland which only report the “official” truth.
This might explain why Chinese authorities are limiting the number of tourists travelling to the island despite what their Taiwanese counterparts say is strong demand.
Under the terms of the agreement between Beijing and Taipei, up to 3,000 mainlanders can enter Taiwan each day. Previously entry permits were granted only to those who had to travel for work, business or family reasons.
Taipei hopes the new arrivals will provide an important boost to the local economy, now experiencing from high inflation.
Local media reported that the first group of more than 700 visitors spent around US$ 1.3 million, an average of just under US,900 per person.
Despite difficult political relations in the last few years, mainland China has become Taiwan’s main export markets. Taiwanese firms have an estimate US$ 150 billion invested in China.
The government announced that the island’s companies will be able to invest up to 60 per cent of their net worth on the mainland, up from 40 per cent.
.png)
23/01/2006
