The Chinese mainland Thursday eased restrictions on package tours to Taiwan by making it easier for residents living in different parts of the mainland to travel together with family to the island.

According to old rules, a mainland resident could only join a package tour to Taiwan in the place where he held a residence permit, or hukou in Chinese.

Under the new policy, he can also join a package tour in places where his lineal relatives hold residence permits, said a statement from the National Tourism Administration (NTA).

Since the two sides of the Taiwan Strait lifted the ban on mainland tourists' travel to Taiwan in 2008, Taiwan has become a popular destination, especially for families and the elderly.

In addition, the NTA's new policy also allows travel agencies to organize tours for a group of people holding different residence permits if they work for the same corporation or organization.

This policy will make it easier for some companies and institutions to organize group travel for their employees.

From July 2008 to this October, a total of 2.82 million mainland tourists had visited Taiwan.

The new rules introduced by the mainland have been met with a warm welcome from Taiwan's tourism circles.

The island's tourism department said the favorable policy will boost mainlanders' willingness to tour Taiwan.

"It's a great and big gift for Taiwan's tourism," said Yao Ta-kuang, chairman of the island's Travel Agent Association. He expected a sharp increase in number of visitors to Taiwan from mainland-based overseas-funded enterprises and local major companies for next year. ' Terming the mainland's policy as great news, Chou Ching-shyong, chairman of Taiwan Visitors Association, said it will make it more convenient for mainland residents to travel to Taiwan.

Thanks to the new rules, Chou expected the annual figure of inbound visitors from the mainland to increase at least 10 percent.