The Taiwan Affairs Office responds to the tourism trade imbalance between the two sides.

On the morning of December 17th, the Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. A reporter asked: Taiwan media reported that after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government in Taiwan implemented the "group tour ban" restricting travel to the mainland, the forms of sightseeing for people in Taiwan visiting the mainland have become more diversified. By 2025, the difference in the number of tourists between the two sides will be nearly 3.8 million, with a tourism deficit of 152 billion New Taiwan dollars. Some scholars in Taiwan have said that the ban on group tours between the two sides and the reduction of direct flight routes have caused tourists to spend more time and money on connecting flights, and that the DPP government's restrictions and bans are actually "punishing the Taiwanese people." What are your comments on this? Spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, said: The mainland has always adhered to the concept of "two sides of the strait are one family" and actively promotes the normalization of cross-strait personnel exchanges, including tourism, and the normalization of exchanges in various fields. The goodwill and sincerity we have shown are clear. Recently, based on the principles of "greater openness, greater convenience, and greater safety," we have increased the number of ports where a single-entry Taiwan Compatriot Pass can be issued to 100, to create convenient conditions and provide quality services for our compatriots from Taiwan visiting the mainland. The crux and obstacles of the cross-strait tourism issue lie in the interference and obstruction by the DPP government, the fundamental reason being their deliberate interference and disruption of cross-strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields in order to pursue "independence." Their disregard for the wishes and interests of the tourism industry and people in Taiwan has caused strong dissatisfaction and opposition from various sectors on the island, and is becoming increasingly unpopular.