International Desk: January 19 (Monday) — At a press briefing held by the Hainan Provincial Information Office, Chinese authorities announced that the island-wide independent customs operation at the Hainan Free Trade Port has delivered notable progress in the tourism sector within its very first month of implementation.

Li Haikang, Deputy Director and Spokesperson of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, stated that three significant transformations have emerged since the launch of the independent customs management system across the island.

First, the number of tourists has risen rapidly, maintaining strong market vitality. In December 2025, the average nightly number of foreign overnight visitors to Hainan reached 773,000, marking a 59.5 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024.

Second, the sources of tourists have become more diversified. Visitor numbers from traditional markets such as Russia, Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have continued to grow steadily. Meanwhile, arrivals from long-haul markets—including Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand—have seen a sharp rise. In December 2025 alone, tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Australia increased by 56 percent, 83 percent, 144 percent, 62 percent and 52 percent respectively.

Third, tourism consumption patterns have expanded significantly, accompanied by increased spending. Total tourism expenditure in December 2025 reached USD 141.4 million, representing a 63 percent year-on-year growth. The popularity of outbound duty-free shopping remains strong, while tourists are also staying longer on the island. The average length of stay increased from 3.37 nights in 2024 to 3.96 nights this year.

Source: Shishir–Alim–Mukta, China Media Group