But with an expected increase in Chinese tourists and government economic stimulus measures, next year’s GDP is forecast to grow by 2.12 percent, the DGBAS said. The measures include the recently announced plan to stimulate consumer spending by giving every Taiwanese citizen a little more than US$100 - totalling almost US$2.5 billion.

Several public construction projects, dangerous bridge reinforcing projects, urban renewal plans and investment promotion measures will also together contribute 1.59 percentage points to next year’s GDP growth.

GDP growth in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2009 are forecast to reach 1.05 percent, 3.79 percent and 3.90 percent, respectively, according to the DGBAS.

The number of Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan is expected to reach 3,000 per day by next year, the DGBAS said. Up to last month, an average of less than 300 mainland tourists visited Taiwan each day.

But an expansion in direct flight services between Taiwan and China is expected to encourage more Chinese to travel here.

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