With Lantern Festival, which falls on March 5 this year, looming, an increasing number of Taiwan people who live and work in Pingtan are starting to return to their hometowns by sea, Pingtan Times reported on March 5.

The growing travel peak has led to a business boom on two high-speed roll-on roll-off ferries, the Haixia and the Natchan Rera, which commute between Pingtan and Taiwan on a regular basis, according to the ferries’ managers.

The Natchan Rera reported a 100 percent loading factor on March 2, meaning 800 people boarded the ship. It saw about 500 passengers the next day.

“Around Lantern Festival, many Taiwan students (in Pingtan) go back to Taiwan, and many tourists return, too,” said Chen Yun, a manager of the company that owns the Haixia.

He added that the Haixia carried out 15 round trips to Taiwan in February, and it was loaded with about 600 passengers every time on average around the Spring Festival holiday. The number soared to the maximum loading rate of 770 at times.

The next cross-Straits sea travel peak is expected to come before Qingming Festival in April. Passengers are notified to order tickets in advance.