The Influence of Mainland Chinese Tourists’ Taiwan Travel Experience on Their Democratic Values and Perceptions of Taiwan

• Main Authors: Hsuan Chi Chen, 陳絢綺
• Other Authors: Tzeng-Hua Yang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/79255056086279880843

碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 觀光事業學系 === 104 === A number of researchers have postulated the potential role that tourism between partitioned and/or remain hostile countries may be a positive force of reducing tension, conflicts, political mistrust, and idealistically building peaceful conditions (D’Amore, 1988; Hobson & Ko,1994; Jafari, 1989; Lee, 1998; Matthews, 1978; Matthews & Ritcher, 1991; Richter, 1989, 1996; Var, Brayle, & Korsay, 1989; Var, Schluter, Ankomah, & Lee, 1989). However, in contrast, Litvin (1998) also has pointed out that tourism is not necessarily a forerunner of peace and reconciliation, but rather a beneficiary of peaceful relations. Whether tourism could promote world peace is remain a topic that worth to be studied. China (officially, the People’s Republic of China, or PR China) and Taiwan (officially, Republic of China) have remained divided after the end of civil war in 1949. Until 1987, Taiwan citizens are allowed to visit China for their siblings. Since 2008, Chinese government allows Chinese citizens to visit Taiwan. In 2012, there are more than 5 million Taiwanese tourists visit China and more than 2.5 million Chinese tourists visit Taiwan. The current case between Taiwan Strait could help to exam if tourism can promote world peace. This study aimed to realize if Chinese tourists’ Taiwan travel experience will influence their perception of Taiwan to realize. Three hundred questionnaires were obtained from Mainland Chinese' exchange students and another 300 questionnaires were also obtained from Mainland Chinese' exchange students in Chinese Culture University. Both questionnaire contain the same questions which include perception about Taiwanese people, society, Taiwanese government, and holistic attitude about Taiwan. The goal was to realize if Chinese tourist provide significantly different answers or their perceptions about Taiwan. For a broad understanding of tourism across the Taiwan Strait, this paper previously draws on an overview of Mainland Chinese’ democratic values and their perceptions on Taiwan through traveling in Taiwan. From the theoretical perspective, the paper assesses the perceptions of Mainland tourists towards Taiwanese, society, government, cross-strait tourism, and hostile attitude by using empirical testing. Finally, the role of tourism in reconciliation and peace between Mainland China and Taiwan is discussed and supported. Key words: tourism, peace, Cross-Strait relations, perceptions, democratic values