Two large tourism websites in Chinese mainland and Taiwan on Monday agreed to join hands promoting tourism across the Straits.

China's leading on-line tourism service provider Ctrip and Taiwan's leading on-line tourism service provider Eztravel agreed to cooperate and share resources and technology, following the Chinese mainland's decision to allow mainland residents to tour in Taiwan, said Fan Min, CEO of Ctrip.

Under the agreement, Ctrip will serve the travelers who booked for mainland tour at Eztravel after their arrival at the mainland, while the Eztravel will serve the travelers who booked for Taiwan tour at Ctrip after their arrival at Taiwan.

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) announced principles on opening tourism for mainland residents to Taiwan on May 20.

According to CNTA statistics, about 30,000 mainland residents visited Taiwan for various exchange programs in 2004, up 25 percent from the previous year.

The number of Taiwanese visitors to the mainland reached 3.68 million last year for family reunion, tourism, business, academic study and other purposes, an increase of 35 percent year on year.

The mainland has received 33.87 million travelers from Taiwan since 1987, when the two sides resumed exchanges after a 38-year-old standoff. 

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2005)