In a pilot scheme the Chinese government is expected to start allowing residents from several pilot cities to travel to Taiwan as in the second quarter of this year: according to Shao Qiwei, the chairman of the Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association.

Once the preparatory work is completed, individual travel on a trial basis will be launched in selected mainland cities in the second quarter of 2011, said Shao.

The pilot cities will include Beijing and Shanghai. The Chinese mainland will also expand the trial to more Taiwanese cities.

Taiwan opened its tourism market to the Chinese mainland in July 2008.