BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-Minister of Culture and Tourism Zhang Zheng expressed the hope that mainland residents will soon be able to travel to Taiwan Island for tourism.

Zhang made the remarks at a press conference on Monday in response to an inquiry from Taiwan media about the follow-up to the ministry's recent decision to resume travel for residents of East China's Fujian province to Kinmen.

"We hope that the Taiwan authorities will facilitate the smooth operation of tourist exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, in line with the common interests of people on both sides," Zhang said.

He added that while some mainland tourists have already visited Mazu and Kinmen, many more are expected to visit during the upcoming National Day holiday, which starts on Tuesday.

Kinmen, an island located off the coast of Fujian province, received its first tour group from the mainland in more than four years on Sept 22.