Hainan Province, China's southernmost island, is making waves with its rapidly expanding ocean economy, as highlighted during a recent tour by international media. A delegation of journalists from nine major outlets, including the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and the Republic of Korea, explored the region's marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation, and innovative consumer models across Haikou, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya. The visit underscored how the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), now in its first full year after island-wide special customs operations, is leveraging policy dividends to drive unprecedented growth.
In 2026, designated as the "Marine Tourism Year," Hainan has strategically focused on ocean-themed cultural travel. The province has benefited from visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping, leading to a surge in cultural tourism demand. In the first half of the year alone, inbound visits exceeded 1 million, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%, demonstrating the robust momentum of the FTP's tourism sector.
At Wanning's Riyue Bay, a world-class surfing destination, the media group observed the rapid expansion of coastal sports. The bay attracts over 500,000 visits annually, drawing surfers from Australia and Southeast Asia. A highlight was 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 regardless of natural conditions. Turkish journalist Guney Isik Ganimgil from Aydınlık noted that Hainan's cultural tourism development "far exceeded expectations" and holds "tremendous investment potential."
Eco-empowered tourism and the protection of blue bays are central to Hainan's development strategy. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort enforces a strict policy against capturing wild marine life; 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 hands-on coral transplantation experiences, fostering a virtuous cycle between conservation and tourism.
Deepening 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, diversifying their product portfolio. Tianya Town, built around a century-old fishing village, has evolved into a coastal leisure landmark, now home to 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 in-depth exploration, the media delegation witnessed 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.
