Taiwan admits first Chinese tourists

Lin Hsiou-yen recieved the first tourist visa - No. 001

By BBC's Michael Bristow in Taipei

A group of 13 Chinese tourists on Tuesday becomes the first allowed to visit Taiwan on a purely sightseeing trip.

The Taiwanese Government has decided to allow in a limited number of Chinese visitors in an attempt to boost relations between the two sides.

Before 1 January this year Chinese tourists were not allowed to visit Taiwan. Some Chinese visitors were allowed in but they had to be part of a trade delegation or cultural organisation.

The group may visit a memorial dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek

The elderly men who make up the latest tour group will have the chance to visit some of north Taiwan's most famous tourist sights on their four-day visit.

They are even planning a visit to a memorial dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek, the man who fled to Taiwan with his nationalist army after being defeated by the Chinese communists in 1949.

Breakthrough

Allowing Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan is being hailed as a breakthrough in relations between the two governments.

But Taiwan, which brought in the change to improve relations between the two sides, is not opening up its borders to everyone.

Only Chinese people who live outside China, either for work or study, will be allowed into Taiwan - the current visitors all live in Japan - and only those who come part of an approved tour group will be admitted.

Taiwan might have opened the door to Chinese tourists, but that door is only slightly ajar.