TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Mainland Affairs Council on Friday turned down an application from a Shanghai City Government delegation to visit Taipei’s Lantern Festival next week.

Taipei City Government applied last month to invite seven officials from Shanghai’s Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism for a Feb. 11-14 visit, Radio Taiwan International reported. However, because part of the itinerary looked like a reconnaissance trip for travel tours, the council said the visit should first be negotiated by the relevant authorities in Taiwan and China.

Taiwan founded the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association, while China founded the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, two semi-official bodies handling tourism-related affairs. Taiwan has insisted any issues promoting a resumption of normal tourism exchanges between the two sides should first be negotiated by the two bodies.

Preliminary talks are necessary to safeguard the interests of Taiwan’s travel industry and maintain the healthy development of cross-strait tourism, according to the Mainland Affairs Council. The government also vetoed a similar application for another Shanghai delegation visit.

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) told reporters Friday that he regretted the decision. He added that in times of tension, there should be more frequent contact between both sides, per CNA.