The Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association has announced that from July 18, 2010, mainland residents from a third batch of provinces and regions will be able to visit Taiwan.

According to the announcement, theses provinces are the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Tibet Autonomous Region, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Mainland residents first started visiting Taiwan as tourists on July 18, 2008. Statistics show that since then mainland residents had made more than 1 million visits to Taiwan up to April 20, 2010.

It is also learned that relevant agencies are studying the feasibility of allowing frequent independent travel status for mainland residents visiting Taiwan.