Tsai Ing-wen responsible for travel suspension

There are less than two weeks to go before end of the month, when all travel permits mainland authorities issued for Taiwan-bound individual tourists expire. This once important source of tourism revenues for Taiwan will then "make zero".

Which is sad for both mainland residents wanting to visit the island of the country which they have been taught to love since childhood in a more personal, independent manner, as well as the otherwise booming tourism industry in Taiwan.

Since Beijing began to issue individual residents in selected cities－the number of which grew from three to 47 over the years－permits for travel to Taiwan in 2011 under then Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou under what was defined as a "pilot project", independent trips have become increasingly popular among mainland visitors, particularly young and affluent tourists.