59-country visa-free entry policy boosts Hainan tourism

Foreign tourists enjoy swimming in the Dadonghai Scenic Area of Sanya, Hainan province, on July 12. WANG CHENGLONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

South China's Hainan province is experiencing a surge in inbound tourism, with many visitors coming from visa-free countries such as Russia.

A Hong Kong tourist surnamed Cheung, visiting Hainan for the first time, expressed her admiration for the natural landscapes and cultural attractions on the tropical island, saying, "Hainan on Earth matches paradise in heaven".

Cheung was part of a group of more than 1,000 visitors from eight countries and 11 regions, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong, making it the province's largest inbound tour group.

The group spent more than 10 million yuan ($1.37 million), including purchases of duty-free goods, meals and transportation services, according to the Hainan provincial headquarters of China Tourism Group, which provided reception services for the group.

Steve Fuller, a senior executive at Generali Group, which spearheaded the group, noted the significance of Hainan's 59-country visa-free entry policy in facilitating and boosting visits by foreigners.

According to data released by the Haikou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, by July 14 more than 154,000 foreign tourists had entered without a visa this year, over 12 times more than in the same period last year.

Gianna Hsu, director and general manager of Towa Tours, the travel agency that organized the tour group, expressed interest in expanding travel activities in Hainan.

During their three-day stay in Sanya, group members immersed themselves in the city's blend of natural wonders and cultural splendors.

In the first half of the year, Sanya welcomed 319,800 overnight visitors from abroad, around 81 percent of the visitor volume seen during the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. In June alone, the city welcomed 50,700 inbound overnight tourists, up 11 percent month-on-month, according to the Sanya municipal bureau of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

Russian tourists have emerged as the largest group visiting Hainan. Since January, over 35,000 Russian tourists have explored Sanya, representing 33.6 percent of foreign visitors. More than 94 percent of them entered Hainan visa-free, according to the Sanya Fenghuang Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.

The increasing number of Russian visitors is causing businesses in Sanya to improve their products and services to enhance their satisfaction.

"Our restaurant has a significant number of patrons from Russian-speaking regions," said Huang Yongchun, manager of a Hainan cuisine restaurant. "In response, we are planning to employ several full-time Russian translators to provide better services tailored to tourists' needs."

Traditional Chinese medicine has become an attraction for Russian visitors, providing them with an opportunity to relax, improve their well-being and gain insight into Chinese culture.

Russian tourist Ivan Pavlov said his entire family participated in a TCM health regimen in Sanya. He chose TCM treatments such as massage therapy to "recharge" his vitality.

Liu Jianhao, director of Sanya Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, said the combination of a tropical climate and TCM has attracted a significant number of tourists from Russian-speaking regions to Sanya to experience TCM health preservation programs or treatments.