By continuing to browser our site and use the services you agree to our use of cookies, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
In the first seven months of this year, Hainan received approximately 761,600 inbound overnight tourists, a year-on-year increase of 31.5%. Among them, foreign visitors accounted for over 84 percent, reaching approximately 645,100, up 31.2% from the previous year.
Why has Hainan's inbound tourism surged so significantly this year? What new changes are emerging behind this trend? And, what new opportunities does it bring? This article provides the answer.
The expansion of air connectivity
As of September 2025, Hainan had launched 72 international routes linking the island to more than 20 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and Oceania. New routes opened in 2025 include Haikou to London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Jeddah, as well as Sanya to Bangkok, Frankfurt, Seoul, Kazan, and St. Petersburg.
The inaugural "Sanya-Bangkok-Frankfurt" flight, operated by German airline Condor, lands at Sanya on July 27, 2025.
(Photo provided by Hainan Daily)
According to a representative from the provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports, the Haikou–Madrid route is expected to open in October this year, while flights to Belarus are also being planned. Additional destinations such as Daegu and Busan in South Korea are on the agenda. Each new route brings Hainan closer to the world and opens its doors wider to foreign travelers.
From vanilla to tailor-made tourism
In recent years, Hainan's inbound tourism has shown new trends: international visitors are shifting from traditional sightseeing to more personalized, immersive, and high-quality experiences, with clear preferences by region.
For example, Southeast Asian tourists favor food and shopping, Russian visitors prefer coastal vacations and traditional Chinese medicine therapies, European and American travelers seek high-end beach resorts and ethnic culture, and Korean tourists focus on golf and other sports.
In response to this, Hainan has continued to improve its tourism infrastructure and public services, building a solid reputation in Southeast Asia and Russian-speaking regions. Tourism enterprises are actively launching customized itineraries and immersive products to meet diverse demands.
The results are evident. In addition to consistently high Russian visitor numbers, Kazakhstan and Indonesia have emerged as new growth markets. In the first half of 2025, Hainan received approximately 40,200 Kazakh tourists, up 41.1% year-on-year. From January to July, Indonesian arrivals exceeded 18,000, with July alone recording a 231.4% year-on-year surge. Short-haul tourism from Hong Kong and Macao has also continued to rise, further boosting inbound momentum.
Building a global promotion network
Hainan is accelerating its transformation into a world-class tourism destination by combining outbound promotion with inbound experiential activities to expand the international influence of the "All the Sun, All the Fun" brand.
Social media influencers visit Haikou.
Since June 2024, Hainan has established tourism promotion offices and outlets in multiple countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, Vietnam, and Mongolia. It has also partnered with international organizations to launch global promotion programs.
These initiatives showcase Hainan's cultural and tourism resources across both online and offline channels. With the upcoming launch of Hainan FTP island-wide special customs operations on December 18th, inbound visa-free policies are expected to be expanded, and international air routes will continue to grow, helping Hainan further extend the global reach of its inbound tourism market.
What Makes "Hainan Travel" So Appealing?
09:38, 11-September-2025100 Days to Go: What's Next for Hainan-Hong Kong Cooperation?
09:38, 11-September-2025Expert Talks Ep. 4: The Future of the FTP's Digital Economy
09:35, 11-September-2025Hainan FTP Tourism & Culture Promotion Wins Hearts In Hong Kong
09:34, 11-September-2025Haikou-Cyprus-Rome Cargo Route Launched
09:36, 10-September-2025Hainan Free Trade Port Promotion and Policy Interpretation Conference Aimed at Advancing Hainan-Hong Kong Cooperation Held in Hong Kong As 100-Day Countdown to Special Customs Operations Begins
09:36, 10-September-2025By continuing to browser our site and use the services you agree to our use of cookies, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.