Going to Hainan, China? Sanya, China’s top destination for island tourism, received a total of 620,000 inbound tourists by the end of November of 2017, representing year-on-year growth of 70 percent. The tropical city at the southern end of China is expected to receive more than 18 million visitors by the end of the year, setting a record for tourism there.
Sanya, a city on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, has several bays with large beach resorts. Yalong Bay is known for upscale hotels, while Wuzhizhou Island and its coral reefs are destinations for scuba diving, surfing and other water sports. At the city’s expansive Nanshan Temple complex, a 108m-high Guan Yin bronze statue rises on an artificial island.
In addition to the increase in tourists, the number of international flights to Sanya has increased by 64 percent year-on-year, and foreign exchange earnings from tourism have risen by 131.09 percent year-on-year.
According to Mr. Fan Mu, the Director of the Sanya Tourism Development Commission, the growth in visitors comes from investments in the region’s infrastructure and eased visa policies. “The world is discovering Sanya,” said Fan Wu. “With easy access to its beautiful tropical landscape, incredible local and international cuisine and rich cultural heritage, Sanya is a paradise-in-waiting all travelers. With the government’s new open policy, more international travelers can come to Sanya and explore the wonders of our tropical island.”
China’s welcoming policy for Hainan means that travelers from 26 countries can obtain a 15-day visa upon arrival in Sanya, with groups from some countries able to stay even longer, and citizens of a few others able to visit the island for 15 days with no visa required at all.
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15-day visa upon arrival |
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, |
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21-day visa for groups |
Russia, South Korea, Germany |
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No visa required for 15 days |
Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Mongolia |
