Hainan’s 30-Day Visa-Free Access Policies Expands to 61 Countries, Bringing Policy Boost to Sanya’s Inbound Tourism
On August 20, 2026, the National Immigration Administration of China issued Announcement No. 4 of 2026, effective from that date, extending the 240-hour visa-free transit waiver and the 30-day visa-free access policy for Hainan to citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. With this expansion, the 240-hour visa-free transit waiver now covers 57 countries, while Hainan's 30-day visa-free access policy covers 61 countries. Citizens of these two countries may enter through open ports in Hainan Province with ordinary passports and stay visa-free within the administrative region of Hainan for up to 30 days, for short-term activities including tourism, business, visits, and family reunions.
For Sanya, this policy expansion further lowers the threshold for inbound visitors to enter Hainan. Leveraging the policy dividends of the first year of Hainan Free Trade Port's island-wide special customs operations, Sanya continues to make the most of its visa-free access advantages. The city has launched campaigns such as Sanya Tourism’s “Passport Friendly” Initiative for inbound visitors, while accelerating the construction of a marketing network covering major source markets worldwide. To date, Sanya has opened and operated a total of 36 international and regional air routes, reaching 29 overseas destinations. Its major inbound tourist source countries show diverse characteristics, including the Russian-speaking region, Southeast Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Industry analysts point out that the expansion of Hainan's 30-day visa-free access policy, combined with the 240-hour visa-free transit waiver, will provide strong support for the continued growth of Sanya's inbound tourism market. The move offers direct facilitation for tapping into emerging source markets such as Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, helping Sanya to build itself into a core area of the international tourism and consumption center and a world-class coastal tourist destination.