The Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) in Fujian province is encouraged to make breakthroughs in cross-Straits tourism, according to a directive by provincial authorities.

Pingtan can make preferential policies to open up tourism to Taiwan, boost cross-Straits tourism service and jointly develop tourism resources with Taiwan, said the directive passed at a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th Fujian People’s Congress.

Certified Taiwan tour guides will be allowed to take up jobs in Pingtan after light training and written exams on local tourism policies.

Tourism associations in Pingtan are encouraged to increase communication and cooperation with counterparts in Taiwan, and Taiwan’s tourism organizations are invited to set up branches in Pingtan.

Pingtan, an island city off eastern Fujian, is the closet place in the mainland to Taiwan at 68 sea miles, and the only zone in the mainland open to Taiwan for comprehensive reform and cooperation.

It plays an important role in cross-Straits marine traffic. The Haixia, a high-speed roll-on/off ship that runs between Pingtan and Taiwan, has transferred more than 300,000 passengers since it was launched in Nov 2011.

Authorities in Pingtan recently approved a wholly overseas-funded travel agency, the first one of its kind in the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone.