Transport networks, logistics infrastructure to be overhauled

As a pivotal point on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Hainan province is working out a whole new set of plans to enhance its integrated transportation network and to boost exchanges with the outside world against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Last year, Hainan opened or resumed 30 overseas air routes, with 9,970 flights departing from or landing on the island. The province's airports brought in 1.08 million overseas tourists, up 41.9 percent year-on-year.

In the first five months of this year, another eight air routes were opened or resumed. This means the province now has around 60 overseas air routes, covering 15 countries and regions including Japan, Thailand and South Korea.

Lu Zhiyuan, secretary-general of the Hainan Provincial People's Government, said the increase in international air routes is part of Hainan's efforts to build a multimodel transportation system, with seamless connections and zero transfers.

"This is to advance regional integration and further upgrade the island's infrastructure as a world-class international tourist destination," Lu said.

Hainan has constructed four civilian airports: Haikou Meilan, Sanya Phoenix and Qionghai Boao international airports, and Sansha Yongxing Airport. The Haikou Meilan and Sanya Phoenix international airports were listed on Skytrax's 2016 four-star airports.

"The renovation and expansion of Hainan's three international airports - Meilan in Haikou, Phoenix in Sanya and Boao in Qionghai - are underway, and will be completed this year or next year," said the secretary-general.

Adjacent to the Chinese mainland and facing Southeast Asian countries, Hainan has a special geographical advantage in reaching a large number of regions within a three-hour flight: Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, the Pearl River region, the Yangtze River region and Southeast Asian countries.