Taiwan to ease visa entry for SARs residents travelling via cruises

Macau and Hong Kong residents travelling to Taiwan by cruise package tours will be able to apply for two entry visas in a three-month period, effective from January 1 of 2017, according to the country’s National Immigration Agency (NIA).
The deputy-director of the agency, Jeff C.C. Yang, said the measure aims to boost the country’s cruise tourism industry and increase arrivals from the two Special Administrative Regions, Taipei Times reported.
The official said the number of arrivals to Taiwan via cruise ships has totaled 140,000 so far this year, of which 20,000, or 14.3 per cent, were from Hong Kong or Macau.
Current regulations only allow residents of the two SARs to apply for one entry visa every three months.
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior expects the new measure for the residents of the two SARs will help Taiwan to develop its peripheral tourism industry, according to the news outlet.