Hainan Unveils Five-Year Marine Economic and Cultural Blueprints to Build Premier Coastal Tourism Destination
According to China News Service coverage dated 8 June, a dedicated press conference was staged in Haikou to roll out two core policy documents: Hainan’s 15th Five-Year Plan for Marine Economic Development (2026–2030) and the Action Plan for Marine Cultural Development (2026–2030). Officials from Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, Sports outlined a full suite of targeted measures to turn the island province into an internationally recognised marine cultural and tourism hub marked by pristine coastal ecosystems, profound maritime heritage, diverse recreational offerings and streamlined visitor services.
Four core marine tourism segments will undergo comprehensive upgrades to build a multi-layered portfolio of travel experiences across Hainan’s coastal zones. Coastal resort development stands first on the reform agenda, with cultural maritime elements integrated into flagship resort precincts such as Sanya Haitang Bay to create distinctive holiday brands rooted in local oceanic traditions. Island-based leisure products will receive targeted refinement: Wuzhizhou Island will expand scuba diving and water sports infrastructure, Xidao Village will centre its appeal on traditional fishing hamlet culture, while Boundary Island will prioritise interactive marine wildlife encounters. Regulated sustainable development will proceed across waters around Jiajing Island, with tailor-made packages for offshore angling and wedding photography entering commercial circulation.
High-end diving offerings will receive dedicated investment across Boundary Island, Wuzhizhou and Xidao. Managed pre-booking systems for island access will be introduced to regulate visitor flows, alongside premium activities including coral reef restoration observation and underwater photography. Annual diving festivals will continue to expand their national and international profile to drive sustained visitor demand. Surfing and deep-water sports form the fourth upgraded category; Wanning Riyue Bay will be developed into a flagship surfing resort, while Sanya Houhai Bay will cater to casual recreational surfers. This layout delivers an integrated surfing ecosystem spanning professional competitive events, accessible public participation and contemporary coastal youth culture.
Cruise and yacht tourism will be scaled up to unlock untapped deep-sea travel potential, drawing on institutional benefits unique to Hainan Free Trade Port to position sea voyages as a signature offering of the island’s tourism sector. Closer cross-border cooperation will be forged between Hainan, Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with new cruise itineraries linking Hainan to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen set for launch. A phased rollout of long-distance cruise routes connecting Hainan with ASEAN member states will follow in successive development cycles. Construction works at Sanya International Cruise Terminal will accelerate to raise handling capacity for large passenger vessels.
A broad range of composite yacht experiences will be designed under the “yacht plus” development framework, pairing offshore cruising with deep-sea angling, coastal wedding ceremonies and low-altitude aerial sightseeing excursions. Diversified yacht packages will broaden market access, bringing marine leisure activities within reach of a wider spectrum of domestic and international visitors. Parallel supporting initiatives covering marine cultural heritage preservation, cross-border tourism service coordination and eco-friendly coastal infrastructure construction will roll out steadily across the five-year policy cycle, reinforcing Hainan’s competitive standing within regional marine tourism markets throughout the implementation period.
