Village vacations help island paradise flourish

Stellar success

Huang Liangji, deputy head of Longlou township in Hainan's Wenchang city－about 300 kilometers from Sanya－has also recognized the prospects of the homestay industry and signaled his confidence in its development.

In 2016, the China Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, the country's first such facility located by the coast, was opened in Wenchang.

Its growing fame has attracted hordes of tourists in the past two years, driving rapid growth and big changes.

In response, Huang said the homestay and catering industries will focus on visitors who are interested in the aerospace sector.

Located about 19 degrees north of the equator, the center is the launch site for geosynchronous and heavy satellites, large space station components, and lunar and interplanetary missions.

In 2017, a plan was drafted to develop the center into a space industry base called Hainan Wenchang International Aerospace City. The plan has resulted in unprecedented opportunities for Wenchang, especially in the finance and tourism industries.

"A large number of tourists visit our township, which not only boosts villagers' incomes but also provides job opportunities. In the past few years, average annual incomes have grown at 7 percent－last year, Longlou residents saw annual per capita income of more than 16,000 yuan," Huang said.

"All the benefits are the result of the aerospace industry, the township's biggest tourist attraction, so we have decided to highlight it in our future development. I believe the two new industries (homestays and catering) related to aerospace will further contribute to our rejuvenation. However, we have just put the idea forward and specific measures are still being studied."

Tan, from Sanya, echoed Huang's optimism. In his view, the various styles of rooms at homestays mean more choice for tourists and specially designed buildings may also become photographic attractions for visitors, especially young people.

The plan, officially launched last year by the provincial housing and urban-rural development department, noted that nearly 70 percent of homestay consumers are ages 18 to 35, and they mainly choose village homestays because of the natural scenery, the home-from-home atmosphere and special room designs.