Tourists to Taiwan up 500%

 A total of 407,237 tourists arrived from the Mainland in the period from January to October, up 479% from the same period last year.

A key factor in boosting the numbers was a decision by President Ma Ying-jeou’s Beijing-friendly government in July last year to treble the daily quota of Chinese tourists to 3,000.

Taiwan and the Mainland reportedly are planning to swap quasi-official tourism offices before the Lunar New Year next year.

AFP reported that ties between Taiwan and the Mainland have improved dramatically since Ma took office last year. And tourism has led the way although there are reports of protests in Taiwan against this movement.