Taiwan is expected to allow one-third more mainland Chinese tourists to visit the island next year, local media reported, ahead of a fresh round of talks between the two sides.

Currently up to 3,000 Chinese tourists are allowed to visit Taiwan each day and the quota is expected to be increased to 4,000 from January to meet strong demand, the Liberty Times reported, citing an unnamed tourism official.

Officials from the island’s China policy decision-making body Mainland Affairs Council were not immediately available for comment.

Tourism operators welcomed the reported move and called on the government to further relax the restrictions.

“The government should raise the daily quota to 5,000,” Hsu Kao-ching, the chief secretary to the Travel Agent Association of Taiwan, which promotes the island’s tourism, said. Such a level was promised by President Ma Ying-jeou before the 2008 presidential election.

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