Hainan making a name for itself with Belarusian tourists

China's tropical Hainan island has become a hit among Belarusian tourists according to one of the eastern European country's largest travel agencies.

Julia Karotkaya, deputy director of Time Voyage, was talking to China Daily Website on Tuesday during a working tour of Sanya on the island.

Karotkaya was one of more than 1,000 international travel agents who participated in this year's China International Travel Mart, hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism from Friday to Sunday in Haikou, the capital of Hainan province.

Since the launch of direct charter flights from the Belarusian capital Minsk to Sanya in October, all tickets through the end of February next year have sold out thanks to a marketing campaign, Karotkaya said.

Earlier this year, Karotkaya spent a two-week holiday with friends in Sanya's Yalong Bay. She had high praise for the clean environment, warm hospitality, delicious and diverse food, and what she said was a surprisingly excellent wine selection.

As part of her tour of Sanya, the travel agent checked out the city's luxury hotels, and said she was impressed with the Sanya Edition. Karotkaya said she was also planning to visit the Capella Hotel, the St. Regis and the Ritz Carlton.

"We're happy and we'll definitely be selling these top hotels to our clients," she said.