epa07749906 (FILE) - A tourist (C) poses for photograph at the Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, 28 December 2018 (issued on 31 July 2019). On 31 July 2019, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that it will suspend issuing permits to individual Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan starting 01 August. 'due to cross-Strait ties.' Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council protested China's 'unilateral scrapping tourism agreement.' Transport Minister Lin Chia-lung accused China of trying to intimidate Taiwan's tourim industry and affect the outcome of Taiwan's 2020 presidential election. China accuses President Tsai Ing-wen of promoting Taiwan independence and is more angry recently as Tsai is supporting Hong Kong people's protest against the Beijing-backed repatriation bill amendment. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

A woman tourist snaps photo for her son - as her husband looks on - in front of the Grand Hotel (Yuan Shan Hotel) in Taipei on Saturday, the third day of the Chinese New Year holidays. Built in 1951, Grand Hotel used to be Taiwan's best hotel. Late president Chiang Kai-shek used to hold bangquest for foreign heads of state. But in recent years, with the emergence of modern hotels, Grand Hotel had lost its glamour. Grand Hotel has also suffered from the drop in tourist arrivals. Last year 2.2 million foreigners visited Taiwan, down 24.5 per cent from 2002, because of SARS.