About 2.21 million tourists from the mainland visited the island in the first half, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all visitors.[Photo by Zhao Junchao/Asianewsphoto]

The number of Chinese mainland tourists to visit Taiwan in May and June decreased by 12.2 and 11.9 percent compared with the same months last year, though mainlanders remained the biggest group to visit the island in the first half of the year.

About 2.21 million tourists from the mainland visited the island in the first half, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all visitors.

Despite the marked drop in May and June, visitor numbers still grew by 3.1 percent in the first six month.

The businesses serving tourists on the island are worried that the number of mainland tourists will continue to fall in the months to come.

Johnny Tseng of Ezfly International Travel, said people in tourism industry wanted a change. About 90 percent of his company's clients are from the mainland.

He said that the number of mainland tourists had declined sharply since May when Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen assumed office.