BEIJING - The number of independent tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan has exceeded one million since the island opened to mainland individual tourists in June 2011, said a mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday.

More than 1.08 million mainland individual tourists (without contracts with travel agencies) traveled to Taiwan as of April this year, said Fan Liqing, spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Taiwan authorities lifted the ban on travel to the island to group tourists from the mainland in 2008. In June 2011, the island first opened the door to individual tourists from the mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

The number of mainland cities whose residents can travel independently to Taiwan has reached 26 so far, according to the spokeswoman.

"Individual tours have maintained fast growth and helped to boost economic interests and enhance understanding between people across the Straits," Fan said.