A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday called on Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to remove restrictions on travel by mainland residents to Taiwan at an early date.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to the Taiwan authorities' rejection of applications from tourism operators in Shanghai Municipality and Fujian Province to conduct preparatory visits to Taiwan. The decision has drawn criticism from tourism operators and industry groups on the island.

Calls from the tourism sector for less political interference and the early resumption of tourism reflect dissatisfaction with the DPP authorities' disregard for the sector's difficulties and the livelihood concerns of ordinary people, Zhu said.

On April 29, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism announced that Shanghai residents could apply for group and individual tours to Kinmen and Matsu starting that day.

In 2024, the mainland resumed allowing residents of Fujian Province to travel to Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu.

(With input from Xinhua)