Gateway to Taiwan: New Agreement Would Allow Direct Flights || Jaunted

hot: Summer Travel * Celeb Travel * Gambling * Surviving Atlantic City * Skybus * Virgin America

Gateway to Taiwan: New Agreement Would Allow Direct Flights

5/13/2008 at 1:00 PM
Tags: Taiwan, China Travel, China Airlines (all tags)

Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou won't take office until next Tuesday, but the president-elect has already gotten busy trying to solidify a deal that will allow regular direct flights from the Chinese mainland. Talk of the agreement is creating a buzz on the island nation--er, territory?--as its citizens anticipate a massive influx of new tourists.

Ma has so far only committed to expanding weekend charter flights by this July, but has said he hopes to have regularly scheduled flights by the end of this year.

Taiwan first banned direct flights between China when the mainland came under Communist rule in 1949, largely over sovereignty concerns. Direct charter flights resumed under a 2006 agreement, according to the International Herald Tribune, but have only been allowed during major holidays.

Now, in preparation for a wave of mainlanders, Taiwan is adopting new tourism regulations, including a mandate that all hotels and restaurants print menus in simplified Chinese. Business owners near Sun Moon Lake, above, one of Taiwan's hottest tourist stops, are also boosting their services by expanding restaurants and buying more boats.

There appears to be no official word yet on which carrier Taiwan is eyeing for use once regular cross-strait service begins, though it's likely to be the flag-carrying China Airlines. We just hope there won't be any more fuel tank trouble.

Related Stories:
· Taiwan Gears up for Mainland Tourists [Xinhua]
· Taiwan's Ma Committed to July Target for Flights [Forbes]
· Taiwan Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jeff Epp]

0 Comments - Add Yours by benh