Hainan Province, China, is positioning itself as a global hub for ocean economy innovation and tourism, as demonstrated by a recent familiarization tour for international media. Journalists from nine major outlets across the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and the Republic of Korea visited key cities including Haikou, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya to explore the region's marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation efforts, and new consumer models. The tour aimed to showcase how the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is leveraging policy dividends to boost the blue economy.
2026 marks the first full year of island-wide special customs operations under the FTP, and Hainan has designated it as the "Marine Tourism Year." The province is capitalizing on policies such as visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping to attract international visitors. The results are tangible: in the first half of this year, over 1 million inbound visits were recorded, a 48.8% year-on-year increase, underscoring the robust growth of the FTP's tourism sector.
One of the highlights for the delegation was Wanning's Riyue Bay, a world-class surfing destination that receives over 500,000 visits annually. The bay is home to 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. Mr. Guney Isik Ganimgil, a contributor to Turkey's Aydınlık newspaper, noted that Hainan's cultural tourism development "has far exceeded expectations and holds tremendous investment potential."
Ecological conservation is a cornerstone of Hainan's approach. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort adheres to a strict no-capture policy for 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. By deploying artificial reefs and transplanting tens of thousands of coral colonies, the island offers visitors hands-on coral transplantation experiences, creating a virtuous cycle between conservation and tourism.
Cultural integration is also revitalizing 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 evolved into a coastal leisure landmark with nearly a hundred boutique homestays and specialty cafés. The Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex houses over 1,000 international brands and 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.
After four days of exploration, the media delegation witnessed a Hainan that is open, green, and dynamic. The Hainan FTP has transcended the traditional model of seaside tourism, using policy as a backbone, ecology as a canvas, and culture as a soul. By continually energizing the blue economy, Hainan presents a compelling vision of high-quality development to the world.
