Tourism hotspot Sanya is increasingly a hub city too

During the National Day holiday, immigration officers at Sanya Phoenix International Airport help travelers complete entry procedures. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Sanya has transformed from a simple "fly-in, fly-out" vacation spot into a crucial hub for international travelers exploring China. It now serves as a key connection point for inbound travel routes across the country, with its tourism market steadily growing and offerings continuously improving.

Data from Sanya's Phoenix Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station shows that the Sanya Phoenix International Airport experienced a surge in international travel during this year's National Day holiday.

By Oct 7, the airport had handled over 100 international flights and more than 22,000 passenger trips, a 28.7 percent increase from the previous year, marking three consecutive years of double-digit growth. Most of the visitors came from Russia and Kazakhstan, primarily for tourism and family visits.

Wu Hongtao, an immigration officer with over a decade of experience at the Phoenix Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station, has noticed a new trend this year. Previously, foreign tourists would fly directly to Sanya, spend their entire vacation there, and then head home. Now, more tourists are entering China through major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi'an, traveling south by high-speed rail and road, with Sanya as a stop on their journey.

This shift is supported by platform data. Trip.com reports that Sanya ranked among the top five fastest-growing inbound travel destinations in China this summer. According to online travel agency Qunar, Sanya's inbound tourism growth rate was among the top 20 nationwide in the first half of the year, with Hainan's overall growth outpacing the national average.

In addition to including Sanya in their travel plans, many tourists are adopting a more flexible approach by using Sanya as a home base for longer trips. They enter through Sanya, explore other cities and return to Sanya to relax before flying home. This creates a "Sanya entry, nationwide tour, return to Sanya, exit from Hainan" travel loop.

These travel patterns highlight a clear trend: more international visitors are broadening their China itineraries beyond a single destination and incorporating Sanya into their journeys.

Sanya has evolved from an exclusive vacation spot to an open hub, where travelers can blend island relaxation, historical exploration and urban adventures into one diverse and vibrant experience of China.