TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Tourism Administration on Wednesday told travel agents to stop organising new group tours to China since Beijing has yet to allow such trips to the island by Chinese tourists and has altered a flight path in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei.
But "considering the change in the situation", including China not allowing Chinese to visit Taiwan and China's altering of a flight route through the Taiwan Strait last week, Taiwanese travel agencies cannot arrange any more tours, the Tourism Administration said in a statement.
China has downplayed the furore, saying it is a routine measure to alleviate air space pressure.
Taiwanese are still able to visit China on individual trips, while Chinese who live in third countries have since last September been allowed to come to Taiwan again as tourists.
Persons:
Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard, Christian Schmollinger
Organizations:
Administration, Wednesday, Tourism Administration, Taiwan Affairs Office
Locations:
TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Japan, Taiwan, Taipei