Hainan seeks to boost tourism

The island province of Hainan is seeking a total investment of 260 billion yuan ($38 billion) to further develop its tourism, local officials said on Thursday. Hainan aims to promote 116 tourism projects and the investment will mainly focus on infrastructure construction and tourism development, said Chen Tiejun, vice-president of the Hainan Tourism Devel- opment Committee. As part of a development plan, a goal of establishing “A hundred towns and a thousand villages” was set by the provincial government to advance economic development in less developed areas. Thanks to the natural landscapes and the establishment of a special economic zone, Hainan has witnessed a fast growth in its tourism. With annual revenue of over 60 billion yuan and tourists numbering over 60 million in 2016, tourism is still considered the dominant industry in the province.