Operators to provide 1,429 ferry journeys during Lunar New Year holiday

Taipei, Jan. 14 (CNA) Ferry operators are planning to provide a total of 1,429 journeys between Taiwan proper and its offshore islands to meet increased travel demand during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) said Tuesday.

The available number of ferry journeys on eight routes from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 is expected to meet a maximum transport capacity of 289,414 passengers, the MPB said in a news release.

Meanwhile, a total of 396 journeys on the "mini-three links," which are direct ferries connecting Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu islands with China's Fujian province, are also being planned to accommodate travel needs during the nine-day holiday.

During the Jan. 25-Feb. 2 period, should any adverse weather or other force majeure affect ferry services, operators are required to publicly announce the information through various media platforms, the MPB said, indicating that the bureau will also provide real-time updates on ferry schedules via its official website.

Separately on Tuesday, Taoyuan International Airport Corp. said flight passenger traffic is expected to peak starting Jan. 20 as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches.

During the longest holiday of the year, Feb. 2 (the fifth day of the Lunar New Year and the day before work resumes) is anticipated to see the highest travel volume, with nearly 150,000 passengers, the company said in a statement.

As such, a total of 14 chartered flights and 103 extra flights will be added to serve over 1.59 million passengers during the 11-day period from Jan. 24 to Feb. 3, the company said.