HAIKOU /China/, December 23. /TASS/. Cruise ship operators and yachting industry enterprises in China have established an innovative alliance in the city of Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, China News Service reported.

According to the agency, the opening ceremony was held on the territory of the Yazou Bay Science and Technology City. The purpose of the new organization is to ensure the synergistic development of the industry, and to strengthen the production and supply chains necessary to serve the relevant recreational and sports boats throughout their lifetime.

The alliance is expected to help meet consumer demand for water-based recreation in a more flexible manner. It is expected to help consolidate Sanya's status as an advanced yachting center and demonstration area.

According to official data, the resort city ranks among the top three in the PRC in terms of international cruise passenger traffic. In addition, Sanya has more than 1.4 thousand registered yachts, leading the national ranking and known as the "City of a Thousand Boats".

According to the head of the alliance, Professor Wu Weigo of Wuhan University of Technology, the purpose of the organization he heads is to ensure the integration of industry resources, promote the development of design activities, ship construction, support scientific, technical and personnel exchanges. As a result, Hainan should have a high-standard cruise and yachting segment with an annual gross product of $10-15 billion.

Sanya is China's leading resort city, home to more than 1 million people. In 2023, its gross product reached 97.13 billion yuan (about $13.66 billion), up 12%. Its average annual temperature reaches 25.4 degrees Celsius, and its coastline is over 260 kilometers long.There are 19 bays and about 40 islands suitable for tourism in the surrounding waters, all of which allow the local government to successfully develop yachting, cruise tourism, beach and family vacations.