HUNDREDS of scenic spots across the Chinese mainland are offering free entry to Taiwan residents within the initial year of their mainland travel permit application, as announced by a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council during a press conference Wednesday. Taiwan residents simply need to present their travel permit to enjoy complimentary access to these tourism destinations. “We warmly invite Taiwan compatriots to explore the mainland and are delighted to see an increasing number of scenic spots offering special incentives for them,” said spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. Previously, over 1,200 mainland tourism sites had directed promotions towards Taiwan tourists who were first-time holders of the travel permit. Approximately 70 national 5A-rated tourist attractions and 725 4A-rated scenic spots, including renowned sites like the Hulunbuir Grasslands in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province, and the Shenyang Palace Museum in Liaoning Province, have now joined the list in welcoming Taiwan residents with complimentary entry, Zhu said. The updated list of scenic spots with promotional offers will be shared on the official WeChat account of the Taiwan Affairs Office. The Chinese mainland has recently enacted favorable measures to attract tourists from Taiwan, as part of a broader initiative to enhance cross-Strait exchanges. In a recent development, Fujian Province in East China introduced a new tourism initiative allowing Taiwan residents with travel permits free access to many scenic areas in Putian City. Fujian has also introduced incentives to encourage local tourism agencies. Companies that bring Taiwan tourists to Wuyi Mountain will be eligible for cash rewards, with top performers potentially receiving up to 80,000 yuan (US$11,200) annually based on visitor numbers. Zhu emphasized the mainland’s support for cultural exchanges across the Straits, and endorsed joint efforts to promote Chinese culture through events like the inaugural Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit in Beijing and the 15th Cross-Strait (Xiamen) Cultural Industries Fair. Scheduled to be held in Xiamen, Fujian Province from Thursday to Sunday, the fair will include activities such as dialogues among folk artists from both sides of the Straits. (SD-Xinhua) | 