BEIJING - Taiwan authorities on Tuesday announced new measures to relax entrance restrictions for certain "professionals" from the Chinese mainland.

The island has decided to issue special entry permits to elite mainlanders working in fields such as education, mass communications and art and literature. With the special entry permits, they can freely enter or exit Taiwan within a one-year validity period, according to the local department in charge of internal affairs.

Under current policies, people from the mainland must apply for a single-pass entry permit prior to each time they enter Taiwan.

The policies have greatly affected mainland people who have to frequently commute between the island and the mainland, and have hindered cross-Strait exchanges and development in the fields of education, art and literature and communication, local authorities noted.

The new measures are also aimed at bringing more mainland elites from these fields to the island to boost local industries.

The measures will go into effect from August 1, the department said.