TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Friday (Aug. 30) that it is happy with China’s decision to resume tourism between China and the outlying Kinmen Islands.

A MAC spokesperson told CNA that it has repeatedly said China’s tourists are welcome to visit the islands. China’s tourism ministry on Thursday (Aug. 20) said it would resume tourist travel to Kinmen “in the near future.”

Kinmen Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) also said she was happy with the decision, per UDN. She previously said 800,000 tourists from China visited Kinmen annually, creating NT$6.4 billion (US$199.9 million) in value for the county each year.

Chen also said the resumption of tourism will contribute to peaceful cross-strait relations.

The resumption of travel between the two sides followed a meeting between Chen, Kinmen tourism officials and business people, and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) on Aug. 22. After the meeting Chen said Song promised the discussions would yield results.