BEIJING -- Chinese mainland visitors to Taiwan topped 1.97 million in 2012, up 57.6 percent year on year, hitting a record high, the cross-Straits tourism authority said Sunday.

The Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits said more than 1.78 million were group tourists, with the rest being individuals.

Group visitors rose nearly 46 percent year on year, and individual tourists surged 553 percent in 2012 from the previous year, according to the association.

Mainland visitors accounted for about 36 percent of Taiwan's total inbound tourists in 2012, ranking this group first, according to relevant departments of Taiwan.

Taiwan opened for group tourists from the Chinese mainland in 2008, and for individuals in 2011.