Building Hainan into a high-end tourist haven

Tourists enjoy drinking coconut water at a tourism festival held in Sanya, Hainan on Jan 7. [Photo by Lian Guoqing/provided to China Daily]

Elsewhere on the island, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, the first of its kind in China, has attracted more than 20 international cooperation projects. It enjoys nine preferential policies, including special permission for medical talent, technology, devices and drugs, and it is an entry point for foreign capital and international communications.

The pilot zone also has permission to carry out cutting-edge medical technology research, such as stem cell clinical research.

"High-quality medical health services are indispensable for Hainan as an international tourist destination," said He Dongni, vice-president of the China Institute of Reform and Development, in Haikou.

"These efforts may divert some of the Chinese who currently fly to countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand for medical treatment. It will also meet domestic demand, which is growing rapidly."

In addition to shopping and medical tourism, Hainan is also being built into a center for thrill-seekers and adventurers.

Tourists can go diving and explore the island's coral reefs, as well as view the many tropical fish that inhabit its coastal waters. They can take helicopter flights and venture deep into the jungles and mountains of the Wuzhishan, Yinggeling and Bawangling nature reserves, or book a cruiser trip to the Sansha Islands, about 340 kilometers away in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, motor homes are becoming increasingly popular on Hainan, with camp sites providing space for up to 150 cars or recreational vehicles near the beaches of Haikou and Sanya.

The island is also a paradise for golf lovers, with course fees set at about one-third of the international market price despite a plethora of quality resorts and world-class hospitality. Golfers, both professional and amateur, from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and elsewhere have flocked to the island in recent years.

"Hainan Island is one of the most exciting emerging destinations in the Asia-Pacific today," said Herve Humler, president and CEO of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co, which opened its first China golf resort in Haikou earlier this month.

"The island is rich in culture and off-the-beaten track experiences that reflect a China many have not seen, making it an ideal spot for families and friends to travel and explore."

In addition to the Ritz-Carlton, a number of other leading international hotel groups have opened facilities on Hainan in recent years.