A recent tour by international journalists from nine major media outlets, including those from the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and the Republic of Korea, highlighted the rapid development of Hainan’s ocean economy. The delegation visited key cities such as Haikou, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya to explore the region’s marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation, and innovative consumer models.
The tour comes as Hainan enters its first full year of island-wide special customs operations under the Free Trade Port (FTP). Designated as the ‘Marine Tourism Year’ for 2026, the region is focusing on ocean-themed cultural travel, leveraging policy benefits like visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping. These measures have significantly boosted tourism, with inbound visits surpassing 1 million in the first half of the year, a 48.8% increase year-on-year.
In Wanning’s Riyue Bay, the journalists witnessed the growth of coastal sports. Renowned as a world-class surfing destination, the bay attracts over 500,000 annual visitors. The highlight was the country’s first Olympic-standard artificial surf pool, which uses advanced wave-making technology to simulate 23 different wave types, allowing year-round surfing. Mr. Guney Isik Ganimgil, a contributor to Turkey’s Aydınlık newspaper, noted that Hainan’s cultural tourism development has far exceeded expectations, presenting significant investment opportunities.
Ecological conservation is another cornerstone of Hainan’s development. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort enforces a strict no-capture policy for wild marine life and has successfully rehabilitated and released over 200 rare marine creatures. Wuzhizhou Island has pioneered eco-tourism by partnering with universities to develop a tropical marine ranch, deploying artificial reefs and transplanting tens of thousands of coral colonies. Visitors can participate in coral transplantation, creating a virtuous cycle between conservation and tourism.
The integration of culture and tourism has also revitalized traditional maritime heritage. Danjia fishing rafts continue to offer authentic marine-ethnic experiences, while Tianya Town, built around a century-old fishing village, now features nearly a hundred boutique homestays and specialty cafés. The Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex houses over 1,000 international brands and introduces ‘duty-free + technology’ 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 high-end coastal destination.
After four days of exploration, the media delegation witnessed an open, green, and dynamic Hainan. The FTP has moved beyond traditional seaside tourism, using policy as a backbone, ecology as a canvas, and culture as a soul. By continually energizing the blue economy, Hainan is presenting a compelling vision of high-quality development to the world.
