Hainan sees surge in inbound tourists

Visa-free policies, new flights turn island into a top destination in China

Hainan province welcomed more than 1.24 million inbound travelers in the first half of this year, a 20.8 percent increase from last year, immigration authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The surge comes as expanded visa-free policies and new international flights have transformed the island into one of China's top destinations for foreign travelers.

Foreign arrivals and departures rose 48 percent year-on-year to 663,000, with visa-free entries jumping 76 percent to 269,000. Visa-free travelers now account for nearly 90 percent of all foreign arrivals, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 6.6 percent. The growth follows the expansion of Hainan Free Trade Port's visa-waiver policies, which now cover citizens from 85 countries — the most favorable visa-free arrangement in China.