Mainland tourists have a taste of Taiwan snacks at a night fair. (File photo: China News Service/ Wang Dongming)

 Taiwan will increase the daily quota for mainland individual tourists from 4,000 to 5,000 to answer an increasing demand.

The number of direct cross-Straits flights has increased to 61, with mainland travelers expected to grow robustly, said Chen Jian-yu, head of Taiwan's transportation authority.

Chen added that, unlike tourists visiting the island in arranged groups, individuals could bring benefits to more business sectors.

Statistics from Taiwanese authorities show that the number of average daily mainland tourist came to about 3,300, sometimes reaching 4,000, from January to June this year.

Taiwan also plans to double the daily quota for mainland tourists through the Mini Three Links arrangement to 2,000. The policy allows for limited postal, transportation, and trade links between the Fujian province cities and Taiwanese frontline islands.