China to trial system of travel to Taiwan for individuals

China's Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA) stated the China mainland will allow residents in several pilot cities to travel to Taiwan as individuals from 2Q2011 (Xinhua, 22-Feb-2011). The pilot cities will include Beijing and Shanghai. Currently mainland tourists can only travel to Taiwan on tour packages with a stay of up to 15 days. Meanwhile, China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) representatives arrived in Taiwan on 23-Feb-2011 for a six-day trip of business exchanges (Xinhua, 23-Feb-2011). The 50-member delegation is to investigate the investment environment and business opportunities in Taiwan to help mainland companies enter the island's market and promote industrial cooperation, according to the ARATS.