HEFEI -?The number of mainland travelers to visit Taiwan island this year is expected to reach 1.6 million, a remarkable rise over 2010, according to a Taiwan official in Anhui province.

David W. J. Hsieh, the vice-chairman of the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association said during the Taiwan Tourism Briefings on the Mainland in the provincial capital of Anhui on August 3 he anticipated a bright future for cross-Straits tourism in years to come.

During the first half year of this year, the number of mainland visitors to Taiwan had hit 600,000 trips after both sides allowed cross-Straits travel three years ago, he said.

Ming-Ching Chiang, the deputy executive secretary of the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association, said he was sure that the promotion of Taiwan trips among mainland visitors would be a great stimulus to those intending to travel to Taiwan, which is branded as "the Heart of Asia", in the future.

Zhang Xueping, the vice-president of the Anhui Tourism Association, said during the event's opening ceremony that she recalled Anhui Vice-Governor Hua Jianhui saying on August 2 while meeting visitors from Taiwan that she expected the number of visitors to Taiwan from Anhui province alone to climb to 100,000, five-and-a-half times more than the figure in 2010.

The choice by the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association to put the first station in Hefei for their briefings on the mainland trips showed their best wish and sincerity in luring more visitors from Anhui, Zhang said.

She said she was confident that Anhui will strive to increase the number of visitors from the province to Taiwan above the 100,000 mark.

Dr. Yang Ruizong, the director of the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association Beijing Office, said that he anticipated mainland tourists to Taiwan would visit with different themes and would have a better look instead of a quick glimpse.

Xu Daofu, the general manager of the Taiwan Entry Department of fly168.com, said all the people cross-Straits shared the same bond and mainland travelers would be treated to the full while touring Taiwan.