215 tourists disembarked from a Boeing 737-9MAX passenger plane at Sanya Phoenix International Airport, on October 17. Coming from Astana (the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan), their arrival heralded—for them—the start of a 12-day holiday on the island and—for Hainan—the resumption of flights between Sanya and Astana.

It is understood that this route, operated by Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines, will have two flights per week (Tuesday and Saturday) between Sanya and Astana.

On October 17, regular international flights between Astana—the capital of Kazakhstan—and Sanya resumed service. Photo by Sha Xiaofeng.

The opening or resumption of many international routes along with the island's 59-country inbound tourism visa-free policy is leading to more and more overseas visitors coming to Hainan. Taking Sanya as an example, since the opening of the new international terminal of Phoenix Airport in July of this year, six global and regional routes(covering Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia and other key source areas for international tourists) have resumed operations.

Foreign Tourists visit Yanoda Rainforest Park. Photo by Wu Wei.

According to information released by Sanya's Tourism Development Bureau, the third quarter of 2023 has (when compared with the first half of the year) seen a 55% increase in average inbound tourists per month. The top five countries and region of origin for visitors who travel to Sanya are Hong Kong SAR of China, the United States, South Korea, Russia, and Malaysia.

Zhou Lijing (Hainan Saiaofei International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. tour guide management department manager) said: "Unlike sightseeing tours in the past, foreign tourists like to try different kinds of activities. For example, besides enjoying the beautiful coastal scenery, which we are famous for in Sanya, they also like to visit the rainforest and experience Li and Miao culture.

The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Area and the Binlang Valley Li and Miao Cultural Tourism Area in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County often welcome foreign guests. There, people can visit unique Li villages, explore the incredible textile skills of the Li people, and see firsthand the magic of using a fire drill. They can also participate in immersive and diverse cultural experiences such as local people's long table banquets and bamboo dances.

Dating back to the 1920s, Haikou's historic downtown (also called Qilou for the architectural style of the buildings) is a hot tourist site for culturally minded individuals. Strolling through the area on a CityWalk, it is possible to feel its culture, history, and life. As one grows tired of walking, the many local delicacies served in the restaurants and shops lining the streets are a great excuse to stop and rest.

Hainan's comfortable and pleasant climate is very attractive to international sports lovers who take part in activities ranging from golf and yachting to surfing, swimming, and cycling. Sanya's Dadonghai is a favorite place for foreign tourists to lie on the beach and sunbathe or swim in the sea. Dadonghai also offers on-water entertainment facilities such as rental skidoos and motorboat tours.

For foreign tourists, especially those from Russian-speaking areas of the world, Hainan is a great place to experience the extensive and profound culture of traditional Chinese medicine. The Sanya Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital often welcomes foreign tourists who have come specifically to experience traditional treatments ranging from acupuncture to massage.

In recent years, the hospitals of traditional chinese medicine in Sanya and Haikou have been launched a series of traditional Chinese medicine wellness tourism experience projects. Specifically for international tourists who seek not only to breathe the island's pure air and see the island's beautiful ocean, but also to promote good health.

Learn more about Hainan's "59-country visa-free policy for inbound tourists" by clicking on the URL below or scanning the QR code.

https://en.explorehainan.com/en/plan/visas.shtml