(ATF) – Hainan has unveiled a five-year plan to develop a national sports tourism pilot zone in a bid to help turn the island province into a leading global tourist destination.
According to the provincial government’s official website, the pilot zone is expected to gain initial backing to pioneer the development of the country’s sports tourism sector and cultivate a brand image by 2022.
Construction of the project should be completed by 2025. If successful, the programme could be replicated and promoted nationwide.
The project is part of the province’s wider plan to promote the island’s business and cultural assets. Officials hope to piggyback the pilot free trade zone and free trade port on the sports scheme and harness the publicity also to advertise the island’s natural and cultural resources.
The project will be the lynchpin in an integrated world-class sports tourism business model, bringing in world-famous sports tourism developers and their products in order to help make Hainan a major tourism hotspot.
The province also hopes to host a diverse array of international competitions under its own branding, including yachting, golf, a marathon, surfing, beach volleyball, boxing, chess and e-sports.
