New Mainland Travel Law Takes Effect in October; Group Tour Prices for Mainland Visitors to Taiwan Set to Rise, Numbers Expected to Drop Sharply

▲ Mainland tourists visiting Taipei 101. (Photo / Reporter Yao Nan-hung)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The mainland’s “Tourism Law” takes effect on October 1, strictly prohibiting zero-fare tours and forced shopping. As a result, tour prices for cross-strait group travel will return to normal levels, meaning that tour fees for mainland visitors coming to Taiwan will increase significantly. The Tourism Bureau stated on the 5th that the mainland group tourism market to Taiwan is expected to enter a transitional period, and it is inevitable that the number of visitors from the mainland will decline initially. However, both sides can enhance tourism quality through dual regulation.

The Tourism Bureau pointed out that the mainland will implement a new tourism law on October 1, 2013 (102 year in Taiwan’s calendar), which applies to the entire mainland tourism market (including travel to all countries around the world as well as domestic tourism). Key aspects of the mainland Tourism Law include strict regulations on itinerary arrangements, shopping stops and commissions, and optional paid activities. It is expected that future tour products to Taiwan will see a significant reduction in shopping stops, with tour prices returning to market rates. This change moves away from the previous model of low-cost group tours, reducing the pressure on operators to compete by cutting prices and compensating with shopping. In turn, this will help improve the quality of tourism products and corporate image.

However, in the initial phase of the law’s implementation, higher tour prices may affect the travel budgets and willingness of mainland tourists, leading to a short-term decline in the number of group travelers from the mainland to Taiwan, especially those on low-cost tours.

The Tourism Bureau believes that the legislative intent of the mainland Tourism Law aligns with the objectives of our own “Quality Itinerary” initiative, which has been promoted since May 2013 (102 year). In international tourism practices, shopping is an important part of travel activities. To rectify irregularities in shopping practices, efforts will be directed toward promoting limited and high-quality shopping environments, which can be integrated with the Quality Itinerary measures.