Hainan issued a five-year plan on developing a sports tourism pilot zone in a bid to help turn the Chinese island into a leading tourist destination.
Xu Xianghong, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, introduced the "Planning" focuses on three aspects of "spatial planning, product planning, and industrial planning".
The plan, to be implemented starting 2020, said the pilot zone is expected to pioneer the development of the country's sports tourism and cultivate its brand image by 2022. Construction of the zone should be completed by 2025, with infrastructures and services ready to be copied and promoted nationwide.
Mai Youwang, Director of the Group Office of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, introduced that Hainan will promote the innovation of sports development models and system innovation under the guidance of the free trade port policy.
She also said that in terms of attracting intelligence and gathering talents, the island will promote the establishment of a talent pool for the development of the Hainan sports industry, pooling intellectual resources such as professional sports institutions, experts, and entrepreneurs from home and abroad.
In addition, the destination plans to introduce world-famous sports tourism developers and their products. It will also make efforts to build its own brand competition events that cover yacht sailing, golf, the marathon, surfing, beach volleyball, boxing, chess and e-sports events.
