An island looks overseas

With the tide of inbound tourists rising, Hainan is adopting policies and developing services and infrastructure to court foreign travelers.

Favorable visa policies, more international flights and tax rebates have accelerated Hainan province's inbound tourism.

It's not uncommon to see Russians and Ukrainians strolling among the old-style buildings or enjoying such traditional Chinese medical treatments as acupuncture and acupressure.

"Lots of foreigners gather in the Dadonghai Bay area, especially at night," says Cui Peng, a resident of the island province's city, Sanya.

"They fill Western restaurants in the area."

Inbound travelers made 1.26 million visits to Hainan last year. That's nearly 30 percent more than in 2017. Tourism income also increased by over 13 percent to $770 million during the period.