Taiwan tourism professionals visit the Taiwan Town, a duty-free commodity market that sells Taiwan goods in Pingtan, Fujian province, on Feb 17. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

A delegation of more than 40 leaders and guides from Taiwan's travel agencies took the Haixia ferry to Pingtan, Fujian province, on Feb 17, on a tourism fact-finding trip, local news portal ptnet.cn reported on Feb 26.

The event was launched by the Fujian Tianhai International Travel Agency, a joint venture by the Fujian Liang'an International Travel Agency and the Taiwan Tianhai Travel Agency. Its aim was to enable Taiwan's tourism professionals to learn of the convenience of travel routes between Pingtan and Taiwan and enhance tourism cooperation and exchanges between the two areas.

Qiu Yu, vice general manager of the Fujian Tianhai International Travel Agency, said that he expects new travel routes to the mainland via Pingtan to be planned by the Taiwan agencies, enabling more Taiwan compatriots to see the beautiful landscape of the mainland.

Many delegates said that they were impressed by the convenience of the ferries shuttling between Pingtan and Taiwan, particularly the Haixia ferry.

Wu Liren, one of the delegates, also said that Pingtan's natural landscape is quite appealing and he hopes more Taiwan people will come to enjoy it.

In addition to attracting Taiwan residents to the mainland, they will also help the mainland's tourists to visit Taiwan, so as to promote cooperation and mutual understanding between the two areas, said Wu Shimin, general manager of the Fujian Liang'an International Travel Agency.