Global experts hail China's tourism momentum, Hainan's potential

A foreign attendee poses for a photo with a Chinese girl in ethnic group's suit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International tourism leaders at the 2025 China International Tourism Mart expressed strong optimism about China's tourism reopening and the unique opportunities presented by Hainan's development.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, praised the event's role in fostering systematic cooperation. He said Thailand has a keen interest in partnering with Hainan on high-quality tourism segments.

Mortier Marie Pierre Hedvige, general manager of France's EMT Tourism Research Association, praised China's "pragmatic measures" like visa simplification and improved payment systems. She said that Hainan, with its diverse and sustainable tourism development, is well-positioned to emerge as a top-tier comprehensive destination.

The island-wide special customs operation in the Hainan Free Trade Port has been a common topic. Rolf R, a travel expert from Sweden, said that this policy is reshaping perceptions, with many international operators now seeing Hainan as a potential regional hub for leisure and business travel, expanding beyond its classic resort reputation.

This collective feedback underscores widespread global confidence in China's tourism market's ongoing expansion and growing complexity, with Hainan seen as a particularly dynamic frontier for investment and product development.