“Ningxia is becoming a hot destination for visitors from Taiwan!” declared Ding Lairi, executive director of Taiwan Association of Tour and Travel Agents, to a Ningxia delegation during the 16th Cross-Straits travel agency meeting. On April 14th reporters learned from the Ningxia tourism office that Yinchuan, Ningxia’s capital, was to become a Cross-Strais stop for direct flights from Taiwan, bringing new opportunities for tourism cooperation between Ningxia and Taiwan.

By the end of 2012, the Ningxia tourism office has earmarked Taiwan as one of its key development markets, devising a series of promotional plans. Ningxia China Travel Service took the bold step of launching 3 direct flights from Yinchuan to Taipei, a move which was strongly welcomed by the market and shored up confidence for increased cooperation in the tourism sector. As a result, more direct flights are scheduled to operate in future and an advertising campaign about Ningxia tourism will feature on more than 600 buses in Taiwan this May.

To promote tourism cooperation with Taiwan, the Ningxia tourism office has decided to include the region’s wine industry, located in the eastern part of Helan Mountain, into its official tour program.