TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU WANTS DIRECT CROSS-STRAIT CRUISES.

TAIPEI, March 2 Asia Pulse - With the successful end of direct charter flights between Taiwan and mainland China for the lunar new year holiday, cruise organizers and tourist agencies are optimistic that direct cross-Taiwan Strait voyages can begin in line with existing guidelines for offshore transshipments.

Star Cruises Group (SEHK:0678) -- the world's third-largest cruise operator -- is keenly interested in opening such a link, which would be modeled after the offshore transshipment center at Kaohsiung Harbor in southern Taiwan, which only handles transshipped products between Taiwan and mainland China or those destined for a third country or area.

K. C. Lu, Star Cruises general manager in Taiwan, expects direct cruises between Taiwan and mainland China to attract a large number of tourists from around the world.

Should direct cruises be permitted across the strait, foreign tourists would be very willing to visit Taiwan, Lu said.

This is not the first time that Star Cruises has attempted to open the door between the two sides of the Taiwan strait. Its vessels, although registered in Hong Kong and flying the Panamanian flag, have been forced to detour across the strait due to government policy restrictions.

More then two years ago, the group envisaged a voyage for enthusiastic local worshipers of the goddess Matsu to her native land -- Meizhou in Fujian province in southern mainland China -- departing from ...