HAIKOU /China/, May 11. /TASS/. Hainan Island is becoming increasingly popular among tourists from across the globe, including Russia, Hainan Ribao reported.
The newspaper cited positive feedback from Russian and Belarusian nationals who had visited the southern Chinese province, as well as data showing that visa-free foreign tourist arrivals to Hainan increased by 14.5% year-on-year during China’s May Day holiday (from May 1 to May 5 – TASS).
In early May, the beaches of the Dadonghai tourist attraction in the resort city of Sanya, popular among Russians, were so crowded with foreigners that locals sometimes felt as if they were not in China, the authors of the article noted. The newspaper quoted Anna, a Russian tourist, as saying that on her first visit to Hainan it "was even beyond her expectations." "I was impressed by the hospitality of the local people and the Chinese cuisine. Next time I arrive, I would like to transition from mere holidaymaking on the beach to getting to know the region better," she told Hainan Ribao reporters.
Apart from Russia, the daily added, Hainan has been an extremely popular destination for visitors from Belarus, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Singapore. The reporters quoted Irina, a Belarusian tourist on her third visit to Sanya, as saying that she finds the ever rising level of service, simplified entry procedures, language support, and payment convenience attractive.
Tourist-friendly measures
Ahead of the peak tourist season for the May holidays, the authorities in Hainan introduced a number of tourist-friendly measures as they increased the number of international flights, adding six exclusive and 10 themed sea routes, and launched a consumer campaign. In addition, coupons worth 5 million yuan (approximately $730,000 at the current exchange rate of the People’s Bank of China) were issued with plane tickets. For the sake of diversity, the province organized more than 80 events for tourists, including exhibitions and sporting tournaments.
According to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province, the province accommodated 165,000 Russian tourists in the first quarter of 2026, or 67% more than in January-March 2025.