Hainan Province, China's southernmost island, is making waves in the global tourism and economic landscape. A recent media delegation from nine countries, including the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and South Korea, toured the island to explore its marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation, and innovative consumer models. The visit highlighted the dynamic growth of Hainan's "ocean economy," which is now a key pillar of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).
As the first full year following the island-wide special customs operations of the FTP, 2026 has been designated the "Marine Tourism Year." The province is leveraging policy dividends such as visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping to boost inbound tourism. The results are impressive: in the first half of the year, Hainan recorded over 1 million inbound visits, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%, according to official data.
One of the highlights of the tour was Wanning's Riyue Bay, a world-class surfing destination that attracts over 500,000 visitors annually. The media group witnessed the nation's first Olympic-standard artificial surf pool, which uses advanced wave-making technology to simulate 23 different wave types, enabling year-round surfing. Turkish journalist Guney Isik Ganimgil from Aydınlık newspaper remarked that Hainan's cultural tourism development "far exceeded expectations" and holds tremendous investment potential.
Ecological conservation is another cornerstone of Hainan's development. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort adheres to a strict policy against capturing wild marine life, and its rescue center has rehabilitated and released over 200 rare marine creatures, including sea turtles and hawksbills. Wuzhizhou Island has pioneered an eco-tourism model, partnering with universities to develop a tropical marine ranch. Through artificial reefs and the transplantation of tens of thousands of coral colonies, the island offers visitors the chance to participate in coral transplantation, fostering a virtuous cycle between conservation and tourism.
The integration of culture and tourism has also revitalized traditional maritime heritage. The Danjia fishing rafts continue to enrich their authentic marine-ethnic cultural offerings, while Tianya Town, built around a century-old fishing village, has become a coastal leisure landmark with nearly a hundred boutique homestays and specialty cafés. The Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, housing over 1,000 international brands, has introduced cutting-edge "duty-free + technology" consumption scenarios. The Sanya Yacht Tourism Center, with a complete industrial chain, recorded over 220,000 yacht outings in 2025, cementing its status as a premier destination for high-end coastal tourism.
The four-day tour showcased a Hainan that is open, green, and vibrantly dynamic. Today's Hainan FTP has transcended the traditional model of seaside tourism, with policy as its backbone, ecology as its canvas, and culture as its soul. By continually energizing the blue economy, Hainan is presenting a compelling new vision of high-quality development to the world.
