Taiwan ongoing protest about increased economic cooperation with China PRC could affect tourism

TAIPEI- Little has been so far exposed but the signature of an extensive service trade pact with China has come into a deadlock as clashes occurred between Government’s officials and student-led protesters. Taiwan Parliament, the Legislative Yuan, has been occupied by the students for over a week. Violence picked up over the week end when police broke into the parliament to arrest students. Police used water cannon and dragged out students one by one, clearing the building by dawn on Monday. In total, the police arrested some 60 people while over 100 of students were injured or hurt. The ongoing protest starts to worry the Taiwanese travel industry. Clashes between the government and student-led protesters could hurt Taiwan’s image and its tourism, local travel sector officials said Monday, urging the restoration of order. In a joint statement, the Taiwan Visitors Association, the Travel Agent Association of the Republic of China, the Travel Quality Assurance Association and the Taipei Airlines Association said they are concerned about the current standoff.
 

Widespread global coverage of the “occupation action” since last week, when angry protesters stormed through police lines into the Legislative Yuan and Executive Yuan, has drawn inquiries from overseas about Taiwan’s travel safety, according to the statement.
 

If the chaos continues, Taiwan’s global profile as a safe travel destination could be harmed, industry representatives said. This would undermine the nation’s economy, to which the tourism industry contributed NT$350 billion (US$11 billion) in foreign exchange revenue last year.

The sector said it respects different opinions on the trade-in-services pact signed with China in June last year but stalled in the Legislature that is the origin of the conflict, but urged all those involved to behave in a peaceful manner.
 

(Source: CNA)