The Chinese mainland will resume group tours for residents from Fujian province and Shanghai to Taiwan, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Friday.

The decision is part of efforts to further normalize people-to-people exchanges and cooperation across various sectors between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. It aims to respond to the strong demand from Taiwan people and the tourism industry, while enhancing the welfare of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry.

The ministry stated that preparations are already underway, and it is expected that the tourism industries on both sides will strengthen communication to offer high-quality services and products for Chinese mainland residents participating in group tours to Taiwan.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press conference on Friday that the resumption of group tours is a practical response to the strong desire from compatriots on both sides of the Strait to strengthen exchanges and contacts. He noted that this move aligns with the shared wish of Taiwan compatriots for peace, development and increased exchanges and cooperation, which the Chinese mainland fully supports and welcomes.

Chen stressed that the Chinese mainland has always upheld the principle that both sides of the Strait are one family and has consistently supported the normalization of cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges as well as cooperation in various fields for the benefit of Taiwan compatriots.

He further expressed hope that the Democratic Progressive Party would acknowledge the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and the voices from the industry, lifting the ban on group tours to the Chinese mainland, easing travel alerts for Taiwan people traveling to the Chinese mainland, and restoring direct cross-Strait flights to help create more favorable conditions for exchanges between the two sides.

Li Shangyi contributed to this story.