Set up new channels for the three-dimensional transport network between Fujian and Taiwan
%26ldquo;Fuzhou Changle Airport is designed for the cross-straits %26lsquo;three direct links%26rsquo;. Since it was put into service, Fuzhou has always looked forward to the realization of direct air links with Taiwan, and the long-cherished dream now has finally come true after 11-year waiting%26rdquo;. In the opinion of Chen Bin, General Manager of Fuzhou International Airport Co., Ltd, after the first flight, Fuzhou and Xiamen will serve as two major north-south hubs in our province for direct flights destined to Taiwan, which will not only make it more convenient for people to go back and forth between two places, but also put the positioning in the establishment of Fuzhou International Airport into full play.
As Fuzhou is the important %26ldquo;frontline platform%26rdquo; for exchanges with Taiwan on the western coast of Taiwan Straits, two places always keep close economic and trade cooperation relationship and frequent personnel exchanges. In Fuzhou, there are nearly 3,000 Taiwan-funded enterprises, over 20,000 Taiwan businessmen and their families, while there are more than 750,000 Fuzhou citizens in Taiwan. More than 10,000 Taiwan citizens and their families live in Putian, Ningde, Nanping and other places adjacent to Fuzhou. Yan Zheng, professor and doctorate supervisor of Fujian Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, points out that newly-established direct flights in Fuzhou has set up another new channel for the three-dimensional transport network between Fujian and Taiwan, which would reduce the time and cost for round-trip transport between two places, and further promote the economic and trade exchanges between two places.
Relevant personnel of Fuzhou International Airport introduce that Fuzhou International Airport has preliminarily established a spokewise overland transport network with the airport as the center, and passengers can rapidly transfer to express buses between the airport and places such as Fuqing, Lianjiang, Ningde, Nanping and Putian. In the future, with the construction of expressways, Wenzhou (in Zhejiang) and other places would also be integrated into this air-to-land combination transport system (Train-Air-Truck). In the air-to-sea transport, Fuzhou Flight Hub would achieve complementary interactions with %26ldquo;Two-Ma%26quot; (Mawei-Mazu)%26rdquo; air lines.
%26ldquo;If the visa problem of mainland passengers comes to an end in the future, the possibility cannot be ruled out that they could directly fly to Europe, the United States and other destinations after the transit at Taipei Airport and other airports in Taiwan,%26rdquo; Chen Bin also said there were many overseas Chinese in Fuzhou and surrounding regions, many of whom came from Japan, Europe and the United States and other places. These overseas Chinese used to take flights in Fuzhou to destinations after the transit in Hong Kong. At present, the passengers can transit at Taipei Airport or other airports in Taiwan after direct flights are available, which would save considerable time and flying range.
Direct flights give birth to Taiwan %26ldquo;commuters%26rdquo;
%26ldquo;Going out in the morning, doing business in the afternoon and going home in the evening would surely occur to shape up daily working manner across the straits.%26quot; After experiencing the convenience of direct flights, Chairman of Fuzhou Taiwan Businessmen Association, Zhuang Fuchi said the previous route to Taiwan took almost half a day after the transit in Hong Kong or Macao, but now 80-minute duration is enough to %26ldquo;get it done%26rdquo; in direct flights, which would certainly transform the living and working patterns of Taiwan businessmen in Fuzhou.
Zhuang Fuchi said the round-trip air fare of direct flights from Fuzhou to Taipei was about 1,700 yuan, almost half cheaper than before, which was very attractive to Taiwan compatriots. Zhuang Fuchi disclosed that the number of Taiwan compatriots who came to consult with Fuzhou Taiwan Businessmen Association with the intent of investment and establishing factories saw remarkable increase recently. In addition, some Taiwan-funded enterprises have begun to arrange for holidays back in Taiwan, with a two-month vacation adjusted to a one-month one, %26ldquo;Cost for playing golf in Fuzhou plus round-trip air fare is equal to the cost for playing on Taiwan Island. After the direct flights are fully open, it is estimated that four golf courses in Fuzhou will also greatly benefit from that.%26rdquo;.Fuchi Zhuang also predicted that with the opening of direct flights, %26ldquo;commuters%26quot; who monthly or even weekly flied between the two places of the straits might appear.
Diverse travel channels to Taiwan
Li Youdong, a 64-year-old retired cadre in Fuzhou, has been to Taiwan two times on business. However, when he heard of the opening of direct flights, he went to a travel agency and applied for a Taiwan visit. %26ldquo;In the past, I went to Taiwan on business, and now direct flights are open to traffic which saves money and time. Therefore, I must have a visit on Mount Ali, Sun Moon Lake and other well-known scenic spots in Taiwan%26rdquo;.
Passengers for the first flight are mostly tourists like Mr. Li. An 8-day tour via direct flights from Fuzhou to Taiwan is charged at the price of 7,380 yuan/person, 900 CNY less than that in the past when starting from Xiamen, and the flight time is at least 7 hours less than before. A travel agency introduced that tourists from Fuzhou don%26rsquo;t have go to Taiwan by way of Xiamen due to the direct flights, which makes it possible to visit more scenic spots with more sufficient time. Travel agencies will continue to adjust travel routes to Taiwan in view of actual needs on the market, and release more travel products designed for 4-10 days. At present, own-scheduled routes spurred by the direct flights have occurred, and the first delegation of %26ldquo;DIY Taiwan Tour%26ldquo; of CCT Travel Agency (China Comfort Travel Co., Ltd) will set off around the Christmas at a price of 5,780 yuan/person for a 5-day tour.
Deputy Director Chen Yangbiao of Fujian Tourism Administration expressed the opening of the Fuzhou Flight Hub will provide diverse choices of Taiwan tour for tourists from Fuzhou and surrounding regions, and will also contribute to establishment three-dimensional transport channels for cross-straits tourism in Fujian Province. Xiamen will not be the only airport for the Taiwan compatriots visiting Fujian, and they can begin with Xiamen and then visit Quanzhou, Mount Wuyi, and fly back to Taiwan from Fuzhou, without the need of turn back to Xiamen. Chen Yangbiao also said Fujian would usher in a three-dimensional travel channel to Taiwan, which would be composed of direct air routes, %26ldquo;the sea-to-air joint transport%26rdquo;, circum-straits cruise lines and other channels in the near future.