Cross-Strait trips show steady growth this year

More Taiwan residents, especially young people, are choosing to visit the mainland this summer for travel, study, exchanges and work despite continued efforts by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to discourage cross-Strait interaction, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a regular news conference, Zhu said the steady growth in cross-Strait travel reflects the strong desire of people on both sides for peace, development and exchanges.

Figures from the National Immigration Administration show that nearly 3.12 million cross-Strait trips were made in the first half of this year, up 22.1 percent year-on-year. Taiwan residents made 2.85 million visits to the mainland, an increase of 24.9 percent. Zhu said the figures show that claims by the DPP authorities that the mainland is unsafe have failed to convince people in Taiwan, with more Taiwan residents traveling to the mainland or planning visits.

Responding to online discussions among Taiwan youth about whether a trip to the mainland is "worth it", Zhu said, "A trip to the mainland is not only worthwhile, but more than worthwhile."

She welcomed more Taiwan youth to participate in cross-Strait exchanges. She said people on both sides of the Strait share common roots, culture and ancestry and should have more opportunities to meet and communicate.

The mainland welcomes more Taiwan residents, particularly young people, for exchanges, study, internships, employment, entrepreneurship, tourism and business, she said.

"Seeing is believing," Zhu said, adding that the mainland will continue to provide greater convenience and better conditions for Taiwan compatriots.

A series of youth exchange activities is scheduled across the mainland this summer. From July 14 to 17, a youth exchange delegation from the Taiwan People's Party is visiting Shanghai. The sixth Cross-Strait Youth Culture Month opened in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on July 15. The ninth Cross-Strait Youth Development Forum will be held from July 17 to 21 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and other locations.

Zhu also highlighted the role of the "mini three links" — the direct passenger, postal and trade links between the coastal areas of Fujian province and Jinmen and Matsu. By June 30, the routes had safely carried more than 27 million passengers, including more than 1.15 million in the first half of this year.

The mainland has promoted the resumption of travel by residents of Shanghai and Fujian to Jinmen and Matsu. According to Zhu, such visits now exceed 300,000.

Mainland residents are also willing to visit destinations across Taiwan, including Penghu, she said. However, the DPP authorities have continued to restrict mainland residents from traveling to Taiwan on what she described as unjustified grounds, hindering the recovery of the cross-Strait tourism market.

Zhu urged the DPP authorities to put people's interests first and lift restrictions on mainland residents' visits to Taiwan as soon as possible.

She said a tourism development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) calls for expanding cross-Strait tourism cooperation and strengthening youth exchanges. Tourism helps people on both sides better understand their shared history, culture and landscapes while also benefiting Taiwan's catering, transportation, cultural and creative sectors, she said.

Zhu also rejected recent claims by Taiwan's "mainland affairs council" that several Taiwan residents had lost contact after visiting the mainland and that one public servant had been questioned. Since 2024, Taiwan residents have made more than 11.7 million visits to the mainland for exchanges, study, employment, tourism and business, she said.

"As long as they do not engage in illegal or criminal activities, Taiwan compatriots can come to the mainland and return safely," Zhu said.

Direct cross-Strait flights also remained strong in the first half of this year, with passenger trips reaching nearly 3.14 million, up 15 percent year-on-year.

Zhu said the mainland will continue to promote the full normalization of direct flights and urged the Taiwan authorities to remove unreasonable restrictions so that airlines on both sides can arrange flights according to market demand.

yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn