Sanya forum focuses on tourism security cooperation

A forum on tourism security will open in Sanya, Hainan province, on Sept 13, as officials and experts gather to discuss new risks facing global tourism and ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation.

The meeting, part of the 2025 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), will focus on three themes: managing new risks in a changing world, building cross-border security mechanisms, and countering emerging crimes that target tourists.

The sub-forum follows last year's inaugural session in Sanya, which featured China-Serbia joint police patrols and highlighted Hainan's approach to tourism safety. The island has developed a dedicated tourism police network, with officers tasked to maintain order, investigate crimes, and provide translation, travel assistance, and emergency support.

Local measures range from bilingual service booths and rapid motorbike patrols on coastal roads to a "five-minute" response goal for disputes. In Wanning, surf club staff, diving instructors, and homestay operators form a volunteer rescue team to bolster seasonal capacity at Riyue Bay. "Previously, police often worked alone," said Zhang Chao, owner of the surf club Shaka Surf. "Now businesses provide jet skis, coaches obtain first-aid certificates, and we all act as safety lookouts."

Technology has also become central. Police in Sanya use drones, patrol boats, and real-time crowd-monitoring systems, while AI translation devices help bridge language barriers. In one recent case, an AI tool at a Yalong Bay booth assisted a foreign tourist in recovering a lost passport within minutes.

Authorities say the model aims to strengthen both visitor confidence and international cooperation. "Police patrol until the last tourist leaves," said Song Xintao, security director at Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone.

As Hainan develops as a hub for international tourism, organizers hope the forum will encourage more countries to share practices and coordinate responses, setting higher standards for global visitor safety.