Chinese cruise pax to Taiwan

This item appears on page 90 of the April 2008 issue.

Taipei has dropped its ban on Chinese tourists arriving by ship. Taiwan has banned direct sea, air and trade links with China since 1949.

On Feb. 18 and 19, 2008, when the Rhapsody of the Seas docked at Keelung Habour, nearly 700 Chinese nationals were allowed to visit the mainland for day tours — the largest group of Chinese tourists to visit at one time. Taiwan currently restricts the number of Chinese tourists to 1,000 at one time.