aiwan has been dropped from two lists ranking the most popular summer destinations among mainland Chinese tourists, sparking speculation that Beijing ordered the removal.
The events come amid rumors that the Chinese government will declare a complete ban on summer travel to Taiwan starting July 20 — claims denied by the Tourism Bureau, citing information from associations in Beijing and Shanghai.
Leading mainland travel website Lvmama released a report earlier this month purportedly based on travel data for this summer, listing the most common overseas destination for Chinese tourists as Thailand, followed by Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Italy, Indonesia, the U.S., the U.K., France and Singapore.
(Read also: Report: China cancels visit by kids who sang Taiwan anthem)
Also earlier in July, online travel company LY.com issued the results of a travel preference survey, ranking the top 10 destinations as Phuket, Boracay, Seoul, Bali, Tokyo, Bangkok, Nha Trang, Osaka, Hong Kong and Jeju Island.
The Tourism Bureau said Lvmama had a market share of only 8.6 percent and emphasized that Ctrip, which it said had a 21-percent market share, ranked Taipei sixth this year in its top 10 destinations and fifth in its list of best cities for individual travelers.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.