Sanya aims to become top tourism destination with natural beauty and romance
Walking down the aisle in perfect white sand and exchanging wedding vows along with sound of ocean waves are romantic scenes many couples dream of. Now, many lovebirds are flocking to Sanya, a beach resort in China’s tropical island Hainan, to turn their dreams into reality.
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Sanya hosted 2,000 weddings parties, received 300,000 couples to shoot their wedding photos, and 200,000 honeymoon holidaymakers in 2015, according to Sanya Wedding Tourism Association, turning the city into an increasingly popular destination for young couples who want to tie the knot on a gorgeous beach, the same way many of their favorite celebrities did.
“Sanya has great potential to be the number one wedding destination in China,” Mr. Hoss Vetry, Multi Property Vice President and General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay, said in early June at a ceremony, where his hotel was awarded the ‘Best Wedding Hotel’ in the 6th Annual China Hotel Awards along with three distinguished accolades from the Sanya Wedding and Tourism Association.
The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay, which has the first oceanfront wedding chapel in Sanya, was also honored for ‘Best Public Relations Event of Year 2016’, for hosting the Chinese reality TV celebrity dating show ‘If You Love’. Mr. Vetry said his hotel would “continue to work closely with the Sanya Wedding and Tourism Association to enhance the renown of this uniquely romantic destination for couples.”
The booming wedding tour is just one of the several charming initiatives taken by the local government to develop the city into a world famous travel destination, offering not only views of breathtaking natural landscapes that the resort has been long known for but also experiences and services that visitors would relish and never forget.
In addition to the wedding destination promotional programs the Sanyan Tourism Development Commission launched since 2012, the tourism authority also supports local five-star hotels to devise their own family holiday packages with international standard amenities and activities such as themed camp activities, water sports, cultural and etiquette courses, as well as a full range of child-friendly amenities such as baby bottle warmers, mosquito nets and dining options.
Under a Cool Summer Promotion program launched in June, Sanya destination wedding company, Dream House, will curate the special wedding packages for Hong Kong. The offer includes flights from Hong Kong to Sanya, suite accommodation in a luxury five-star property such as the Mandarin Oriental or InterContinental, the wedding ceremony, venue and set up as well a team which includes a make-up artist, photographer and emcee for the reception.
Apart from the lure of its world-class golf courses dotted along beaches and other modern tourism facilities, the tropical resort city also intends to showcase its culture and appeal by popularizing the natural charms of the small villages scattered across the city and developing culture-themed projects.
According to the overall plan for Sanya’s village-themed tourism industry (the plan’s timeline is for 2016 to 2020), the local government plans to raise 715 million yuan this year to build 16 beautiful model tourism villages to offer more choices for both local residents and tourists.
About 47 model tourism villages will be developed citywide from 2016 to 2020, each carrying a unique selling point. There are a range of new and old villages across the city, along with breathtaking natural scenery and well-kept cultural traditions. The rural tours offer not only home stays but also well-designed trips to Sanya’s most unique sites.
At the same time, local government in Sanya strives to turn a number of cultural projects into major touristic attractions.
Several cultural performance oriented entertainment complex are going through renovation in the city. The Sanya Water Ballet Performing Arts Center, covering an area of over 6000 square meters, is on the list. The Haitang Bay Dreamland City, a massive cultural tourism complex, was ordered to speed up its construction by a top provincial official, as the city seeks to add entertainment as part of its touristic appeals.
The city also focuses on preserving and supporting art forms that carry significant cultural heritage, including the Li People’s firewood-gathering dance, the Yazhou folk songs and the Sanyuan dance of the Miao people.
The beach city also is also working hard to attract more international tourists by facilitating their entry through offering visa free entry treatment for up to 15 days for groups of five or more people from 26 countries. In particular, Korea, Germany and Russia visitors can enjoy 21 days visa free entry for groups of two people or more.
Meanwhile, the city is also opening more international flights. In the last 6 months alone, 5 new international direct flights were approved and more direct flights are expected to open, adding to the existing 14.
“Sanya is a growing international tourism destination and the tourism continues to be Sanya’s strategic pillars of growth,” said Mr. Fan Mu, director of the Sanya Tourism Development Commission. “We are implementing our plan to preserve and manage Sanya’s natural beauty and eco-system while continuously upgrading our urban environment and infrastructure.”
“Sanya has invested heavily in its infrastructure including new roads for ease of access and high speed rail links around the island is now in place,” said Mr. Fan. “While our all-round tropical paradise is famous for its great weather as nature’s oxygen bar, beaches, and crystal clear waters year round, Sanya also has an amazing cultural depth to explore.”
All these efforts are bearing fruits as the resort city continues to enhance its tourism products offerings and ease the.
In 2015, Sanya attracted 358,200 international travelers and nearly 15 million domestic visitors.
The city is targeting to receive 20 million domestic travelers and 1 million international visitors in 2018, building it into the biggest international tourism city in South China area.
Recommended hotels in Sanya
Yalong Bay:
- Grand Metropark Resort Sanya
- Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa
- Holiday Inn Resort Sanya Yalong Bay
- MGM Grand Sanya
- Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort
- Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Villas & Resort
- Sheraton Sanya Resort
- Sanya Marriott Yalong Bay Resort & Spa
- The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay
- The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort
- Yalong Bay Earthly Paradise Bird’s Nest Resort
- Yalong Bay Mangrove Tree Resort
Haitang Bay:
- Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay
- Doubletree Resort by Hilton Sanya Haitang Bay
- Haitang Bay Gloria Resort Sanya
- InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
- Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa
- Shangri-La Sanya Resort & Spa
- Sheraton Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
- Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort
- The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
- The Royal Begonia, A Luxury Collection Resort, Sanya
- Wuzhizhou Island Resort Sanya Coral Hotel
Sanya Bay:
- Club Med Sanya
- Crowne Plaza Resort Sanya Bay
- Four Points by Sheraton Hainan Sanya
- Mangrove Tree Resort World Sanya Bay
- Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa
- Phoenix Island Resort Sanya
- Hampton by Hilton Sanya Bay, Sanya
Dadonghai beach:
- Anantara Sanya Resort & Spa
- Banyan Tree Sanya Resort and Spa
- Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
- Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay
- InterContinental Sanya Resort