Hainan 30th Anniversary: China aims to make island an international tourism destination

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For years, Hainan island has been developing its tourism industry, aiming to become an international tourist destination. So what is Hainan's next step in becoming a world-class resort? CGTN's Feng Yilei reports from Hainan's main tourist city of Sanya.

30 years after Hainan island became a province and a special economic zone, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an acceleration of its development into a center for international tourism and consumption.

Hainan's tourism industry has grown rapidly, but it's suffered from "growing pains".

During this year's Spring Festival, thousands of holidaymakers returning home were stuck in a massive traffic jam on the island.

Speaking in Beijing in March, the mayor of Sanya said there's a need for improvement.

A DONG, MAYOR SANYA, HAINAN PROVINCE "Our tourism industry lacks high-end and competitive products. The quality of relevant services cannot meet international standard yet."

President Xi says a series of actions are needed to make Hainan an international resort. They include standardizing the tourism sector and offering better quality services.

Here in Dadonghai bay, police officer Li Xuefang has just resolved a dispute over a dangerous ball game on the beach. She has been learning English for decades, which helps her to do a better job. Each day, Li and her colleagues help dozens of tourists from all over the world.

But this is just a small part of the job for China's first tourist police patrol. The captain of the division tells us that they specialize in answering queries, resolving disputes and cracking down crime.

WU QIFENG, CAPTAIN TOURIST POLICE DIVISION, SANYA PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU "We will equip our team with more high-tech devices to quickly respond to emergencies, to monitor tourist sites and to translate. We are working with institutes to train our police officers in foreign languages to overcome the language barrier and better serve our overseas friends."

Hainan also wants to boost sales. Hainan has one of the world's largest duty-free shopping centers and it's now the fourth island in the world to pilot an offshore duty-free policy. It aims to extend offshore duty-free shopping to all outbound tourists.

Hainan is also seeking innovative ways to attract tourists. For instance, this luxury hotel resort that will officially open in late April. It is not just an accommodation. It also includes an aquarium and a water park where visitors can explore an underwater wonderland and get right up close to creatures of the sea.

HEIKO SCHREINER, MANAGING DIRECTOR ATLANTIS SANYA "I think Hainan bay has gained another international brand that is well-known for entertainment destination."

Resembling its better-known twin on Dubai's Palm Island, the hotel is a reflection of Hainan's ambition to turn itself into the Dubai of China. The government wants Hainan to welcome global investors, becoming a free trade zone by 2020 and a free trade port by 2025.

Here in Sanya, the Phoenix Island International Cruise Port is welcoming an ever-increasing number of people from the rest of the world, and the island can look forward to a brighter future. Feng Yilei, CGTN, Sanya, Hainan Province.