Sanya’s Flight to Global Tourism

News
The Buzz Nepal
October 13 , 2025

SANYA, CHINA – October 13, 2025
Sanya, one of China’s most popular coastal destinations, is quickly emerging as a global travel hotspot thanks to its unique “Airline + Marketing” strategy. The city has seen a major expansion in international air routes this season, strengthening its connections across Asia and beyond.

On October 8, Belavia Airlines inaugurated the “Sanya–Minsk” route with its first flight landing at Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Within just four days, two more routes – “Ulaanbaatar ⇄ Sanya ⇄ Ulan-Ude” and “Sanya ⇄ Kuala Lumpur” – also took off, signaling Sanya’s strategic move to tap into Central Asian, European, and Southeast Asian markets.

As of now, Sanya boasts 38 international flight routes, linking it to 29 overseas cities, including Bangkok, Frankfurt, Seoul, and St. Petersburg.

*China’s Sanya is developing into a world-class tourism destination through its diversified tourism offerings.*

A Natural Getaway with a Marketing Edge

While much of the Northern Hemisphere faced extreme heat this summer, Sanya offered the perfect escape with its refreshing maritime climate, lush green landscapes covering over 70% of its area, and an average temperature of 26°C (78.8°F).

“The breeze in Sanya feels like nature’s air conditioning!” said Mark, a tourist from Germany, whose trip was inspired by the now-viral “Frankfurt–Bangkok–Sanya” route on Instagram.

In fact, Sanya’s collaboration with top aviation influencers to promote this first Fifth Freedom flight connecting Hainan Free Trade Port with Europe has been a huge success. The campaign amassed over 10 million impressions by August and became a global social media trend.

Smart Marketing, Global Reach

The city’s innovative marketing strategy goes beyond flight routes. For the “Sanya–Minsk” connection, Sanya has participated in tourism promotion events in Minsk for two consecutive years, helping the destination gain recognition in the Belarusian market.

This approach – aligning route expansion with destination marketing – has proven remarkably effective. According to official data, Sanya received over 700,000 international overnight visitors in the first three quarters of 2025, setting a new record.

To cater to different markets, Sanya has customized its campaigns:

In China, it teamed up with Meituan, launching tourism promotions that reached over 500 million online impressions.
For Hong Kong, Sanya introduced “1.5 Hours to Paradise” packages through Klook, resulting in an 87.47% increase in visitors from Hong Kong during the first seven months.
In South Korea, the city invited media and travel agencies to better understand travelers’ preferences.
In Cambodia, an MoU signed with the Cambodia Tourism Board under the Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 marked a new chapter in cultural and tourism collaboration.

Tourism Meets Culture and Wellness

Sanya has been curating experiences for every type of traveler. Teenagers joined beachside sports at the International Junior Sports Carnival, families enjoyed the Children’s Drama Festival, wellness seekers lined up for TCM-inspired drinks at Dadonghai Beach, and trend lovers engaged with Pop Mart’s DIMOO immersive art campaign.

*International tourists engage in immersive experiences in China’s Sanya.*

This surge in tourism has had a direct economic impact. In the first three quarters of 2025, international overnight visitors spent over $600 million in Sanya. With its signature duty-free shopping, multilingual services, and fusion dining, the city continues to enhance its appeal.

“Sanya is such a welcoming city – you can feel the warmth everywhere you go,” said Yerkebulan Tynymov, a first-time visitor from Russia.

Future Plans: Bigger, Better, and More Connected

The Sanya Phoenix International Airport is currently undergoing a major expansion – its third phase – which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Once finished, the airport’s annual passenger capacity will reach 30 million.

According to the Sanya Tourism Board, more innovative tourism products and experiences are on the way to meet the growing demand of global travelers. With the perfect mix of smart marketing, international connectivity, and natural charm, Sanya is steadily transforming into a world-class travel destination.