Individual mainland tourists were allowed to visit in Taiwan beginning June 28.

The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Straits Exchange Foundation in Taiwan exchanged written documents on June 21 to confirm the schedule of a pilot travel program for this purpose.

In the initial phase, both sides agreed the travel program would apply to only residents of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen in southeastern Fujian Province.

Taiwan became a popular travel destination for mainland tourists after the island lifted a travel ban for mainland group visitors in July 2008.

The number of Chinese mainland tourists traveling to Taiwan in groups totaled 2.34 million as of the end of May, bringing an estimated 110 billion New Taiwan dollars ($3.8 billion) to the island.