Taipei, Jan. 25 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has criticised China's newly issued standardised tourism contract for travel to Taiwan, saying it fails to resolve the core obstacles blocking the resumption of normal cross-strait tourism exchanges.

The contract, released by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and scheduled to take effect on March 31, instructs Chinese tourists to follow Taiwanese laws and customs and protect environmental and tourism resources while visiting.

It also bars travel agencies from using ultra-cheap tour packages to lure customers or from forcing travellers into shopping tours and extra fees, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, although some have interpreted the move...