Malaysian tourists jet in to Sanya on special themed tour

There was certain sense of anticipation and excitement on the evening of Jan 6, when Sanya Phoenix International Airport welcomed a group of special travelers.

Some 100 tourists from Malaysia arrived on a Phnom Penh - Sanya - Singapore flight — officially starting a six-day, five-night themed tour of China’s southernmost Hainan province.

A bevy of delighted Malaysian tourists wave at the camera during a tour in Sanya. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

The Phnom Penh - Sanya - Singapore route is Hainan's first fifth-freedom air route and since its launch on Dec 1, 2023, it has established an air corridor connecting China, Cambodia and Singapore.

The fifth freedom of the air refers to the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State to put down and to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from or destined to a third State. It is considered an important indicator of regional openness and business environment.

The latest numbers show that since the route's opening, the number of overnight visitors from Singapore at Sanya's tourist hotels has increased by over 440 percent year-on-year.

As a significant initiative of the China International Travel Mart 2025 held in Hainan, the themed tour is offering a mix of natural scenery and cultural experiences.

In addition to visiting Sanya's classic coastal attractions, these tourists will also venture into the heart of Hainan to appreciate the charms of its local culture.