Mainland tourists banned from gambling in Taiwan

Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily  |   2008-6-23  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CHINESE mainland visitors to Taiwan will not be allowed to gamble or engage in "pornographic activities," according to regulations issued by the mainland-based Cross-Strait Tourism Association.

The regulations, posted on the National Tourism Administration's Website www.cnta.gov.cn, provide guidelines on the management of mainland guides to Taiwan, tourists' registration and permitted activities on the island.

CSTA-accredited mainland travel agencies must report the names of tourists from the mainland to relevant authorities.

Agencies should not engage in economic, cultural or any other cross-Strait exchanges in the name of traveling in Taiwan, and tourist activities on the island should not involve gambling, pornography, drugs, or any other activities that may hamper mainland-Taiwan ties.

Tourist groups should be led by guides who have passed relevant training and are accredited by the CSTA, the regulations said.

The regulations also demanded emergency procedures to be set up by travel agencies in case of natural disasters or other incidents threatening the safety of life and property of mainland tourists in Taiwan.

Travel agencies should report to relevant authorities if mainland tourists refuse to leave Taiwan after the trip, the regulations said.

Tourists must also behave themselves, and maintain decent conduct.

The mainland and Taiwan signed breakthrough agreements on charter flights and tourism promotion between the two sides earlier this month.

Mainland travel agency managers have arrived in Taiwan on a 10-day fact-finding mission to inspect tourism infrastructure, such as hotels and transport.

The tourism agreement takes effect from July 4. Under a separate agreement signed in Beijing, 36 charter flights will be allowed to cross the Taiwan Strait each weekend.