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Lawrence Chung

Taiwan’s opposition and tour operators have hit back at new registration rules for travellers heading to mainland China, with politicians accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of trying to fan cross-strait fears ahead of local elections.
Since September 1, travellers to the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau have been required to register details of their trip, including the purpose of their visit, contact information, travel dates as well as the numbers of their passports and mainland travel permits.
Travel agencies handling mainland-bound inspection visits, exchanges and privately organised groups must submit the information on behalf of their clients or face fines of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000 (US$330-US$1,650).
The move came ahead of new mainland entry and exit regulations taking effect on September 15, which Taipei has warned could increase risks for Taiwanese visitors.
But travel operators questioned why they should be held responsible if travellers refused to register or give their details.
“Working in the travel industry now feels like selling drugs. We have to operate on the sly, and if we’re caught, we get fined. Are they really trying to force us out of business?” Taipei-based tour operator Lan Hsueh-hua said.


Another operator, Chen Chien-chin, said agencies could find themselves caught between personal data protection requirements and penalties for failing to register travellers.
“A travel agency might make only NT$300 or NT$500 from selling an air ticket. What have we done to deserve this?” he said, adding that seven or eight independent travellers had already cancelled planned trips because of the controversy.
Tourism industry leaders called the policy unreasonable and urged the sector to challenge it.
“Do the administrative authorities have sufficient legal grounds to require travel agencies to register the information and penalise those that fail to comply?” said Hsiao Po-jen, chairman of the Taipei-based Taiwan Straits Travel Development Association.
He argued that such obligations and penalties required “explicit statutory authorisation”.
Critics have also questioned whether the rules are meant to reinforce negative perceptions about mainland travel at a politically sensitive time.
Hung Mong-kai, a legislator with the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), accused the DPP of “turning cross-strait exchanges into an election issue”, suggesting that the policy was an attempt to revive the DPP’s “resist China, protect Taiwan” campaign strategy before voters elected mayors and county magistrates later this year.
Fellow KMT lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling said the DPP was “turning back the clock” by restricting the freedom of movement it once promoted.
Weng said that under Taiwan’s constitution, Taiwanese had the right to travel overseas without government interference.
People are voting with their feet
Lee Chi-yuen, High Quality of Travel Association
She also questioned the repeated warnings by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) about the dangers of mainland travel, arguing that Taiwanese could face even tougher scrutiny when entering the United States.
The government, however, has insisted the registration is intended to protect travellers rather than restrict them.
MAC spokesman Liang Wen-chieh said registration would enable the authorities to identify and help Taiwanese during emergencies.
Liang said that travellers who refused to register “would not be forced to do so”, although he did not clarify whether agencies could still be fined if their customers did not comply.
He also pointed to Taiwanese reported missing, questioned or suspected of being detained on the mainland as evidence of the risks.
According to the MAC, 426 Taiwanese were reported missing, detained for questioning or suspected of having their personal freedom restricted on the mainland between January 2024 and August 27 this year – figures that Beijing dismisses as exaggerated.
Despite those warnings, the number of Taiwanese travelling to the mainland has continued to rise.
Taiwan’s Tourism Administration recorded 1.85 million cross-strait visits in the first half of this year, making the mainland the second-most-popular overseas destination after Japan for Taiwanese travellers.
Mainland figures put the number substantially higher at 2.85 million, up 24.9 per cent year on year.
Lee Chi-yuen, chairman of the Taipei-based High Quality of Travel Association, said the trend suggested that Taiwanese were making their own assessment of the risks.
“The government has repeatedly used various means to tell the public that travelling to the mainland is dangerous, but the number of people going there has continued to increase every year,” he said.
“People are voting with their feet.”
Beijing has also accused the DPP of exaggerating the dangers to discourage cross-strait exchanges.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. Washington opposes any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to providing it with the means to defend itself.


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China

Politics

KMT politicians accuse ruling DPP of turning cross-strait exchanges into an election issue ahead of year-end local polls


KMT politicians accuse ruling DPP of turning cross-strait exchanges into an election issue ahead of year-end local polls.


Hong Kong

Macau

Kuomintang

Tour industry protests over Taiwan’s new mainland China travel registration rules

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}KMT politicians accuse ruling DPP of turning cross-strait exchanges into an election issue ahead of year-end local polls

KMT politicians accuse ruling DPP of turning cross-strait exchanges into an election issue ahead of year-end local polls