Taiwan's newly elected leader Ma Ying-jeou is planning for the first arrivals of Chinese mainland tourists flying directly on July 4, when weekend charter flights across the Taiwan Straits will be launched.

Meanwhile, Chiang Pin-Kun, vice chairman of the Kuomingtang and soon-to-be chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, has discussed the plan at a party conference this week. Chiang says, routes planning will concentrate on existing flights.

While mainland tourists, as well as Taiwan business people and travelers to the mainland will all be able to take the charter flights. The party has designed several tour packages for mainland and Taiwan travel agencies for reference. The daily number of mainland tourists will be boosted to 3,000 from the current 1,000.