Restrictions on tourists from the Chinese mainland visiting Taiwan will be eased soon, according to reports in the Taiwan media.

In the past, a minimum number of 10 mainland tourists was required to form a group to tour Taiwan.

That number has now been reduced to five, and the allowed duration of stay in Taiwan has been extended to 15 days from the original 10, according to reports.

Since Taiwan was opened to mainland residents for sightseeing tours on July 4, a lot of suggestions and comments were offered by tourists from the Chinese mainland.

After consultations between Taiwan and Mainland cross-Strait tourist associations, it was agreed that the required minimum number of mainland tourists to tour Taiwan in a group would be reduced to five, and their stay in Taiwan would be extended from 10 days to 15, making their Taiwan island trip more leisurely.

However, the "group-in and group-out" restrictions remain the same.