Foreign tourists flocking to Hainan

The number of overseas visitors in Hainan province has been increasing thanks to the convenient immigration policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port, local authorities said.

The entry and exit policies at the province are considered the most favorable in China, said Wang Haixing, director of the Haikou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, at a news conference on Thursday.

In February, the National Immigration Administration implemented new policies to enhance visa-free entry opportunities for people from 59 countries who want to visit Hainan. In May, a 15-day visa-free entry policy took effect for foreign tour groups arriving in Hainan via cruise ships, and in July, visa-free entry for foreign tour groups entering the island province from Hong Kong or Macao was permitted for up to 144 hours.

As of Thursday, 1.514 million inbound and outbound personnel have been inspected this year, up 278.5 percent year-on-year, according to the station.

So far this year, 238,500 foreign tourists have entered Hainan visa-free, a 6.5-fold increase compared to last year, constituting over 80 percent of the total number of overseas visitors to the island.

Wang said that visa exemptions have become the primary method for foreigners who want to visit Hainan, and they have facilitated the hosting of major international events such as the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and the China International Consumer Products Expo.

Luo Zhengyu, deputy director of the station, highlighted that the border inspection authorities have implemented a series of effective measures to ensure the smooth implementation of travel policies. For instance, the number of passenger inspection channels at all provincial airports has increased from 39 to 98, with the activation of 44 inbound and outbound express channels.

"This expansion has significantly reduced passenger waiting times and improved customs clearance efficiency," he said.

Additionally, passengers from 59 nations who are eligible for visa-free entry in Hainan, as well as foreign tourist groups entering Hainan from Hong Kong or Macao visa-free for 144 hours, no longer have to fill out entry cards. Furthermore, passengers arriving by cruise ships are no longer required to provide fingerprint information.

"We will introduce innovative measures to enhance the travel experience for Chinese and foreign individuals, further creating a more convenient and streamlined border inspection atmosphere," Luo said.

Two of Hainan's major airports have launched 58 international passenger routes — 36 at Haikou's airport and 22 at Sanya's — connecting 31 cities in 18 countries and regions.

This week alone, two international routes have been launched, and a third will open this weekend, bringing the total number of international flights to and from the island to 61 by the end of this month, according to Hainan Airport Group.

On Tuesday, the route linking Taiyuan, Shanxi province, and Singapore via Sanya commenced operations. On Thursday, Haikou Meilan International Airport inaugurated its first route to the United States, offering service to Seattle, Washington. On Saturday morning, Boao International Airport will host the inaugural flight ceremony for the first international route from Qionghai to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"For many foreign visitors, a trip to Hainan without plans has become a reality," said Mai Weiwen, CEO of Hainan Wenhua Tourism Group. "Thanks to the increasing number of international flights being launched in Hainan, local travel agencies are seizing opportunities to expand their market by venturing abroad to overseas tourist source markets."

Russian expatriate Andreev Aleksei, a lecturer at Hainan University, is excited about the preferential visa-free policies.

"I plan to invite my family members to Hainan due to the ease of travel without the need for visa applications," he said, also highlighting the convenience of direct flights from Moscow to Haikou and Sanya, as well as from other international cities to Hainan, making travel to the tropical island more accessible for foreign visitors.