A tourist rides a motorboat in Sanya Bay, south China's Hainan Province, November 27, 2023. /CFP
Hainan, the southernmost island province in China, is a popular tourist destination known for its tropical beaches, unspoiled tropical rainforests and a rich culture.
Last year, the province saw its gross domestic product increase by 9.2 percent as its booming tourism lent impetus to the economic recovery. More than 90 million tourists visited Hainan, contributing to a total tourism revenue of over 181.3 billion yuan (roughly $25.5 billion), a year-on-year growth of 71.9 percent.
Among all the recreational activities, water sports has seen rapid development, such as yachting, sailing, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing.
This year, the province is eyeing double-digit year-on-year growth in its tourism indicators. For example, it aims to achieve a 10 percent increase in tourist visits and a 14-percent rise in the tourism revenues.