China is again using outbound tourism as its most potent economic weapon.
Due to the ‘current cross-strait situation’ it is banning independent travellers from going to Taiwan.
So far the ban only applies to solo travellers and not those as part of a tour group, but this is still likely to affect up to 700,000 travellers if it continues to the end of the year, said Robert Kao, a member of Taiwan’s Travel Agent Association.
China and Taiwan have had a strained relationship since vocal critic Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen came to power.
Tawain is deemed a ‘restive province’ by Beijing which doesn’t take kindly to China’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy of governance.
President Tsai hit back by condemning the ban as a ‘political tool’ to exert its will on Taiwan.
"Tourism shouldn’t be politicised," Tsai said.
China has maintained it is ready to use force if Taiwan makes a move toward independence.
A previous unofficial ban of tour groups from the mainland to Taiwan saw tourism plunge by nearly half two years ago.
China now accounts for about a quarter of Taiwan’s tourism market.
Still, it was more during the previous ban, and as a result Taiwan has since been able to attract more diverse markets including countries across Southeast Asia.
