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Date: 29 September 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is pleased to welcome the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province as a Destination Partner.
Located in China’s southernmost tropical island province, Hainan is rapidly emerging as a gateway for international tourism, consumption, and economic cooperation. The establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in 2020 marked a major milestone in the destination’s development, elevating Hainan as a national strategic initiative supported by policies that promote openness, investment, trade facilitation, and international connectivity.
Tourism sits at the heart of Hainan’s long-term development strategy. Through the development of the Hainan International Tourism and Consumption Centre, the province is working to strengthen its position as a globally recognized destination, with a focus on tourism attraction, product development, maritime cruise and yacht tourism, culture, and sports. As part of this vision, Hainan has set an ambitious goal of welcoming 154 million domestic and international visitors by 2030.
The partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between WTTC and Hainan. Having hosted the WTTC Global Summit in 2014, the destination demonstrated its commitment to international tourism collaboration and gained first-hand experience of WTTC’s global platform. Through its membership, Hainan aims to deepen engagement with global Travel & Tourism leaders, strengthen its international destination branding, and explore opportunities to host future WTTC events and industry dialogues.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province to WTTC. Hainan has established a clear vision for the future of Travel & Tourism, combining ambitious tourism development goals with greater international connectivity and openness. Building on its experience as host of WTTC’s Global Summit in 2014, Hainan continues to strengthen its position as one of Asia’s most exciting tourism destinations.”
Mr. Chen Tiejun, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, said:
“We are delighted and honoured to join the World Travel & Tourism Council. As China’s only tropical island province, Hainan is a world-class island destination, renowned for its pristine tropical rainforests, spectacular coastlines and high-quality resort offerings. Leveraging the opportunities of the Hainan Free Trade Port and its expanding visa-free entry policy, Hainan is strengthening its global connectivity and developing distinctive experiences across marine, wellness and space tourism. We look forward to working with WTTC and its global partners to enhance Hainan’s international tourism profile, deepen industry cooperation and create more opportunities for travelers worldwide to discover Hainan.”
About the World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the global body representing the private sector of Travel & Tourism and the leading authority on the sector’s economic and social contribution worldwide. Its members include Chairmen, Presidents and CEOs of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations, spanning every major region globally.
WTTC works to advance sustainable growth across the Travel & Tourism sector by driving collaboration between industry leaders and governments, shaping global policy, and providing authoritative research on the sector’s economic impact worldwide.
About the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province, as a constituent department of the Hainan Provincial People’s Government, is tasked with overseeing the province's tourism, culture, radio, television, and sports sectors. Its duties encompass implementing pertinent policies and regulations, devising development strategies, fostering industrial integration and growth, guiding the construction of public facilities, administering literary and artistic endeavors, advancing scientific and technological innovation, safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, regulating market order, and facilitating international exchanges and cooperation.