Sanya Selected as National Pilot City for Digital Service Enhancement for International Visitors
City joins national initiative jointly launched by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Commerce to streamline digital services for foreign travellers entering China.
Sanya, China, 2 July 2026 - Sanya has been officially selected as a pilot city under a new national initiative designed to improve the convenience of digital services for foreign nationals entering China. The designation was announced on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing.
The initiative, jointly launched by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Commerce, designates a group of key cities to pioneer streamlined digital service experiences for international visitors — covering areas such as mobile payment integration, digital identity verification, online service accessibility, and smart tourism platforms. As one of the selected pilot cities, Sanya will work with national authorities to implement measures aimed at reducing friction in the digital experience for foreign travellers, building on existing infrastructure that includes the city's foreign-card-compatible POS network, its multilingual government hotline, and the Sanya TrustTour Platform (Mini Program via Wechat).
The designation reinforces Sanya's commitment to building a seamless and accessible international tourism environment and complements the city's broader strategy of leveraging Hainan Free Trade Port policies — including visa-free access for 86 countries and open-skies aviation rights — to establish itself as China's most accessible tropical destination for international visitors.
About the Sanya Tourism Board
The Sanya Tourism Board (STB) is a statutory body established by the Sanya Municipal People's Government. Its mission is to enhance the competitiveness and international reputation of Sanya as a premier global tourism destination and to support the development of Hainan as an international tourism consumption centre under the Hainan Free Trade Port. The STB formulates tourism promotion strategies, coordinates domestic and international publicity, and oversees international tourism exchange and cooperation.
Media Inquires
Sanya Tourism Board — Media & Promotion Department (Overseas Promotion Center)
Email: rio.wang@visitsanya.com
Website: www.visitsanya.com