A recent tour by international media representatives has cast a spotlight on Hainan Province's dynamic "ocean economy" and its rapid development under the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). 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 witness firsthand the region's marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation efforts, and innovative consumer models.
The visit comes as Hainan marks the first full year of island-wide special customs operations, with 2026 designated as the "Marine Tourism Year." The province has leveraged policy dividends such as visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping to boost its global appeal. In the first half of this year, Hainan recorded over 1 million inbound visits, a 48.8% year-on-year increase, underscoring the robust growth of its tourism sector.
One of the highlights for the delegation was Wanning's Riyue Bay, a world-class surfing destination that attracts over 500,000 visits annually. The bay is home to China's first Olympic-standard artificial surf pool, which uses advanced wave-making technology to simulate 23 different wave types, enabling year-round surfing regardless of natural conditions. Mr. Guney Isik Ganimgil, a contributor to Turkey's Aydınlık newspaper, remarked that Hainan's cultural tourism development has "far exceeded expectations" and holds "tremendous investment potential."
Ecological conservation is a key component of Hainan's development strategy. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort adheres to a strict policy against capturing wild marine life, and its rescue center has successfully rehabilitated and released over 200 rare marine creatures, including sea turtles and hawksbills. Meanwhile, Wuzhizhou Island has pioneered an eco-tourism model by partnering with universities to develop a tropical marine ranch. Through the deployment of artificial reefs and the transplantation of tens of thousands of coral colonies, the island offers visitors the opportunity to participate in coral transplantation, fostering a virtuous cycle between ecological conservation and tourism engagement.
Hainan is also enriching its traditional maritime heritage. The Danjia fishing rafts continue to offer authentic marine-ethnic cultural experiences, 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, 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.
After four days of exploration, the media delegation witnessed a Hainan that is open, green, and vibrantly dynamic. The Hainan FTP has transcended the traditional model of seaside tourism, using 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.
