Oct 3, 2008, 5:52 GMT
Taipei - Taiwan is to send a large delegation to China later this month to encourage mainland Chinese to visit the island.
The delegation, led by Janice Lai, who is in charge of Taiwan's tourism portfolio, consists of some 200 travel agents, the Tourism Bureau confirmed.
The delegation is scheduled to depart on October 13 and will attempt to promote Taiwan tourist destinations in major Chinese cities.
China will also dominate the 2008 Taipei International Travel Fair, which starts October 31.
Sixty-two countries and regions will set up 1,206 booths at the four-day fair, with Chinese exhibitors occupying 256 booths, nearly three times more than the second-largest exhibitor, Japan.
In recent years, Taiwan has been struggling to boost its slow-growing inbound tourism.
While actively luring foreign visitors, Taiwan has shifted its focus to Chinese tourists since China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou came to power this year.
Taiwan, while continuing to restrict entry for mainland Chinese, in July launched weekend charter flights to allow Chinese tour groups to visit.
Ma plans to expand the weekend charter flights to daily charters and eventually to regular flights across the Taiwan Strait.
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