In a significant step towards its tourism industry transformation and upgrade, three of Sanya's top tourist attractions, namely Luhuitou, Daxiao Dongtian and Tianya Haijiao, have waived their entrance fees since last year.
"Before the free admission policy was implemented on July 1 last year, the annual number of visitors at Luhuitou Scenic Spot was just over 900,000. By the end of May this year, the number of visitors to the park had exceeded 1 million," said Liu Yong, vice general manager of the Sanya Tourism and Culture Investment Group.
He described the changes brought about by the policy as three-fold: an increase in visitor numbers, improved profitability and a return of local residents.
Data showed that Daxiao Dongtian experienced a doubling of its popularity after waiving entrance fees on Oct 1 last year, while Tianya Haijiao has also witnessed significant growth in visitor numbers since it offered free admission on June 1.
With the removal of entrance fees, each scenic area has been tapping into the potential for other consumption methods.
Luhuitou has seen a rise in revenue from sightseeing buses. At Tianya Haijiao, various experiences - such as the Tianya Aquatic Sports and the Tianya Camp - have been created in response to visitor demand.
Daxiao Dongtian has introduced specialty dining options and a diverse range of recreational activities like diving, motorboat rides and helicopter tours, providing visitors with a lot of choice.
The removal of the entrance fees has opened up greater possibilities for coordinated development with the surrounding areas.
In the wake of the free admission offered by Tianya Haijiao, more tourists have streamed into Tianya town, a destination with many homestays.
Moreover, the development of tourism in Sanya is anticipated to boost the tourism sector in neighboring cities and counties such as Ledong, Wanning and Lingshui.
