The head of the China National Tourism Administration will visit Taipei for "personal reasons" today.

This visit will likely to pave the way for the opening of Taiwan to tourism from the mainland that has been banned since the political split in 1949.

China's Mainland Affairs Council chairman Joseph Wu confirmed to local media the planned visit of Shao Qiwei at the head of a large delegation, telling a press conference they will be "welcomed to enjoy Taiwan's beautiful scenery as well as its open society.