Free and Independent Travel Policy Promotes Understanding

Free and Independent Travel Policy Promotes Understanding
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 3, 2011

Beginning in July this year, the streets of Taiwan may be filled with Mainland tourists who have chosen not to be part of a tour group. These Mainland tourists want to be free of the restrictions imposed by tour groups. What will they learn about Taiwan after they are allowed to move about freely? Will local people get to know a different kind of Mainland tourist?

The Executive Yuan has announced that by the end of June, Mainland tourists will be permitted to move about Taiwan freely and independently. This is what the tourism related industries expect. This has also been the stated objective of the government since 2008, when it first opened Taiwan to tourists from the Mainland. The Tourism Bureau has already begun preliminary planning. The daily quota will be set at 500 people. Pilot cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen will be opened up first. The Tourism Bureau will make an iniitial assessment. This new policy of openess will enable businesses on Taiwan to do 9 to 15 billion NT a year in business.

Business owners have been quick to react. Many began making investments a long time ago. They welcome the business opportunities brought about by Mainland tourists able to move about freely. According to CEPD statistics, between now and 2013, 34 tourist hotels will invest 75.5 billion NT. Regular hotels will invest 8 billion NT. These measures will create 17,000 jobs. Also, to welcome Mainland tourists, 22 travel related companies are currently building or expanding. Total investments amount to 24 billion NT. An estimated 5,600 new jobs will be created. Why are these companies making such large investments? The answer of course, is that they are optimistic about the business opportunities created by continued opening to Mainland tourists.

The manufacturing industry has declined. Since then, investments and employment opportunities of this scale on Taiwan have been rare. Needless to say, many people have high expectations. In fact, the Taiwan Stock Exchange is already offering "Mainland Tourist Free and Independent Travel Stocks." The ramifications of the Mainland Tourist Free and Independent Travel Policy are becoming more and more obvious. Share prices of these companies have already gone up. When Taiwan was first opened up to tourists from the Mainland, many opponents argued that the baseline target of 3000 people a day could not be reached. They even doubted that Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan would contribute much to the economy. Reality has demonstrated that Mainland tourists are extremely important to Taiwan's economy.

Prior to opening, the Tourism Bureau conservatively estimated that Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan would bring tourism and related industries 200 billion NT in increased revenue per year. But according to estimates by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and the National Immigration Department, last year (2010) the number of Mainland tourists who visited Taiwan reached 1.63 million. This represents a 68% increase over the same period last year. Among these, Mainland tourists accounted for 1.17 million person-visits. This represents a 98% increase over the same period two years ago. According to DGBAS estimates, last year Mainland tourists visiting Taiwan contributed 650 billion NT to our GDP. Mainland tourists increased our economic growth rate by 0.28%. In 2008, Mainland tourists arrived at the rate of 300 people a day. In 2009 the average was 1686 people a day. The number of Mainland tourists has steadily risen. In response, beginning this year, the number of Mainland tourists permitted to visit Taiwan per day has been increased from 3000 per day to 4000 per day. Businesses say the number is still not high enough. They are asking for an even larger quota.

Permitting Mainland tourists to visit Taiwan offers economic benefits. But over the past three years, a variety of incidents have occurred. For example, some tourists have worn helmets during their visits to Taroko Gorge. The miniature train at Alishan has derailed. Many people on Taiwan routinely feel a sense of superiority relative to Mainland tourists. These incidents shook their self-confidence, and provided them with an opportunity for self-introspection. People on Taiwan and Mainland tourists have a complex feelings about each other. This makes it easy to touch a sensitive nerve. Familiarity and acceptance require time and tolerance. Practically speaking, given large numbers of Mainland tourists, feelings, logic, justice, and profits all play a role. Taiwan will find it difficult to resist.

The Free and Independent Travel Policy liberates the individual tourist from group tour constraints. Mainland tourists enjoy greater freedom. They are better able to gain a genuine understanding of the common man on Taiwan. Many believe the policy will increase business opportunities for the travel industry. It offers a mode of travel that will benefit many more people. Many people on Taiwan are entering the medical tourism, precision farming, and other cultural creative industries. They are attracted by the opportunities presented by Mainland tourists under the Free and Independent Travel Policy.

Various non-traditional travel and tourism industries are entering the field. This demonstrates the influence of Mainland tourists. It also demonstrates Taiwan's strengths. Decades of democracy and freedom, of open and pluralistic development, have created a class of "small is beautiful" professionals. Taiwan may lack great mountains and rivers. But Taiwan offers a wide variety of lifestyles and a rich cultural atmosphere. Tourists enjoy visiting. Much of its beauty and many of its attractions cannot be comprehended by tourists in a hurry. Taiwan is better suited to a different kind of tourism that stresses taste, feel, and atmosphere. Some Mainland tourists will opt for the Free and Independent Travel approach. They are more concerned about experiencing the locale. They hope to immerse themselves in the culture. These travelers are more fully prepared. They will explore the alleys and backstreets of Taiwan. They will stay at B&Bs with local color. They will experience aspects of Taiwan that are not intentionally put on display. Friends from the Mainland may find many charms not listed in the travel brochures.

Allowing Mainland tourists to travel more freely and independently demonstrates our self-confidence and enthusiasm. We hope compatriates on both sides of the Strait will get to know each other better, and learn to respect and cherish each other more.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2011.06.03
社論－自由行 讓陸客與台灣更認識彼此
本報訊

　今年的七月之後，台灣的大街小巷可能會出現一些選擇以「不跟團」的方式來台灣旅行的陸客。這些希望擺脫一般觀光行程的陸客，將會認識到什麼樣的台灣呢？而台灣又會因此認識到什麼樣不同的大陸觀光客呢？

　行政院宣布六月底將會開放陸客自由行；這是觀光旅遊相關產業的期盼，也是自二○○八年開放陸客來台觀光後的既定目標。觀光局初步規畫，每天開放人數是五百人，首批開放試點城市有北京、上海、廈門。觀光局評估，這項新開放策，一年可為台灣帶來九○億元到一五○億元的經濟效益。

　而反應敏銳的業者早己展開投資行動，迎接陸客與自由行的商機。根據經建會資料顯示，預估從今年到二○一三年，將有三十四家觀光旅館投資七五五億元，合計一般旅館總計投資金額約八百億元，將創造近一.七萬個就業機會；此外，為了迎接陸客，還有二十二家觀光旅遊業者正在進行新建或擴建計畫，總投資金額為二四○億元，預計增加五六○○個就業機會。業者為什麼要進行如此大手筆的投資，當然就是看好陸客旅遊持續開放後的商機。

　在製造業式微後，如此的投資規模與所創造的就業機會，就台灣而言，並不多見，自然也為很多人所期待；事實上，股票市場上已有所謂的「陸客自由行概念股」；隨著陸客自由行政策愈來愈明確，這些公司的股價表現也更為走強。開放陸客來台觀光之初，不少反對者認為一天三千人的目標根本無法達成；甚至懷疑陸客來台灣旅遊能給台灣帶來多少經濟活水。不過，事實證明，陸客商機對台灣的確非常重要。

　開放之前，觀光局保守估計，大陸觀光客來台，一年約可為觀光及相關行業增加約二○○億元的收入。然而，根據交通部觀光局與內政部移民署的統計，去（二○一○年）全年大陸旅客來台人數達一六三萬人次，較前一年同期成長六十八％，其中觀光客是一一七萬人次，較前一年同期成長九十八％。根據行政院主計處估計，去年陸客來台觀光對GDP（國內生產毛額）貢獻約為六五○億元，因為陸客，台灣經濟成長率向上推了零點二八個百分點。二○○八年，來台陸客每日平均三百人，二○○九年每日平均一六八六人；陸客穩定成長，因應旅遊業者要求，從今年起，大陸旅客來台每天數額已由原先的平均三千人次提高為四千人次；但業者仍表示不敷所需，繼續爭取更高的額度。

　當然，開放陸客來台旅遊，除了經濟收益，這三年來也出現了各式各樣的旅遊狀況。像是旅客戴著安全帽走太魯閣的畫面、阿里山小火車出軌的不幸事件，這些多少都對台灣人在面對大陸觀光客時的自信心甚至是某種不自覺的優越感，帶來了衝擊。對外開放，其實是一個向內自省的機會。台灣人與大陸觀光旅客，彼此或有一種幽微複雜的感受，就更容易牽動敏感的神經；熟悉與接納，需要時間與包容的心。無論如何，實際而言，面對中國大陸豐沛的觀光人潮，於情於理、於義於利，台灣都難以抗拒。

　而不受制式行程約束的自由行，讓陸客可以用一種更自由、更開放的心情認識台灣比較真實的庶民面向，也被認為可以將旅遊商機擴展給更多行業、讓更多人受惠的旅遊方式。像是醫美健檢、精緻農業和文化創意等領域的業者，有不少人陸續投入了觀光產業，為的就是陸客自由行帶來的機會。

　各式各樣非傳統觀光旅遊業者的投入，一方面顯示陸客的魅力，另一方面也顯示台灣的實力。幾十年民主自由、開放多元的發展，造就了台灣在許多領域小而美且專業化的表現，儘管不見得有名山大川，台灣卻有各種豐富的生活場景與動人氛圍，吸引旅客造訪。許多生活美學的確不是跑景點、趕時間的團客可以領會，台灣其實更適合用一種品味與感受的心情旅遊。會選擇自由行的陸客，通常是比較在意「體驗」、期待「融入」、準備比較充分的旅行者。當走入台灣的巷弄街道，住進各具風味的民宿，看見台灣在不經意間流露的文化涵養，來自大陸的朋友們或許會發現很多沒有列在旅遊手冊裡的地方，也很迷人。

　開放陸客自由行，我們有這樣的信心，也有這樣的熱情：期盼兩岸人民能夠愈來愈認識彼此、也因此更懂得互相尊重與彼此珍惜。