BEIJING, Dec. 17 -- Individual tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan this year had reached 1.07 million by the end of November, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said Wednesday.

Office spokesperson Fan Liqing said on Wednesday that this represented growth of 123 percent compared to the same period last year.

Taiwan opened its doors to group tourists from the mainland in 2008 and to individual tourists in June 2011. According to statistics from the Taiwan side, of all mainland tourists that visited Taiwan, only 51 did not return home.

Fan's comments came in response to questions about mainlanders choosing to stay in Taiwan to pursue love interests.

"Love affairs and marriages between young people of the two sides are increasing. Sometimes people follow their hearts," added Fan, saying that the two sides will strengthen cooperation to facilitate exchange and contact between the people across the Strait.