TAIPEI: In yet another sign of increasing exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, Taiwan's tourism chief departed for the mainland yesterday at the head of a large delegation to attend an international travel industry fair.

It marks the first time that Janice Lai, director-general of the Tourism Bureau under the transportation and communications authorities, has led a tourism promotion delegation to attend a travel fair on the mainland in her capacity as president of the Taipei-based Taiwan Strait Tourism and Travel Association.

Lai said prior to her departure that the delegation will introduce Taiwan's natural scenery and other tourist attractions to prospective mainland travel buffs and overseas travelers.

The 190-person delegation, composed of representatives of 23 government agencies and business associations, as well as 64 travel agencies and hotel groups, will operate 60 booths in a Taiwan pavilion at the China International Travel Mart (CITM) to be held in Kunming in the southwestern province of Yunnan from tomorrow through Sunday.

The CITM is the largest annual travel fair on the mainland and tends to attract more than 100,000 visitors each year. A total of 2,500 booths are expected to showcase tour packages to be offered by about 4,000 exhibitors.

According to Lai, the Taiwan delegation will organize cross-Straits travel sessions for tour operators to discuss business deals during the four-day fair.

In addition, a Taiwan Travel Night program will be staged to present Taiwan's performing arts in which a troupe from southern Taiwan will present Oriental dance and theatrical arts.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 11/19/2009 page2)