PATA and Sanya to Host Global Experience Ambassadors to Envision a "Future Coastline" at the 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event
BANGKOK, November 14, 2025 – The 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event, themed "Coastal Tourism: Symbiosis and Development of Nature and Culture," will be held in Sanya, Hainan from November 18 to 21, 2025. Tourism professionals from around the world, officials of international organisations, and guests from Chinese cities will convene in Sanya, collaboratively envisioning and shaping the future of tourist cities worldwide through an innovative experiential exchange model. The event is organised by the Sanya Tourism Board and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
This event aims to establish an open and credible international exchange platform by moving beyond traditional conference modes and promoting deep, immersive engagement through global experience ambassadors. Three curated experience routes, tailored to guests' professional backgrounds and interests, will guide the delegates in groups to representative sites, including Wuzhizhou Island Ecological Conservation Area, Yalong Bay Golf Club, Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park, Sanya International Friendship Sanatorium of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the duty-free complex. These visits will allow the guests to witness firsthand Sanya's achievements in ecological conservation and tourism integration, the upgrading of high-end tourism services, and the continuity and innovation of ethnic cultural heritage. Through immersive exploration and in-depth dialogue, the delegates are expected to gain insights and co-create new ideas for the future of coastal tourism.
During the visits, each route will feature interactive sharing sessions and experience exchange salons. Global experts in sustainable tourism, cultural and tourism officials from tropical coastal cities, and representatives from local enterprises will be invited to discuss key topics such as "Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Tourism," "Innovations in High-End Tourism Experience," and "Modern Fusion of Indigenous Cultures." Through case sharing and in-depth discussions, the delegates will collaborate to develop and refine practical development strategies. They will not only observe Sanya's cultural and tourism initiatives but also contribute to shaping the future of global coastal tourism—their international experience and insights will bring diverse perspectives to support the high-quality development of Sanya and other coastal cities worldwide.
“PATA is delighted to partner with the Sanya Tourism Board on this thematic B2B special project that reflects the essence of collaboration, sustainability, and innovation,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “By connecting global experience ambassadors and fostering dialogue among coastal destinations, this event represents the shared vision of building a responsible and resilient future for coastal tourism, one that balances the needs of nature, culture, and communities.”
The event has drawn extensive international interest, with over 200 delegates expected to participate from 27 countries and regions. More than 50% of the participants will be international delegates, including officials from the tourism authorities of over 37 renowned tourist cities and major source markets overseas, as well as leaders of prominent cultural and tourism enterprises, and industry experts and scholars. National delegates will include cultural and tourism officials from cities such as Beijing, Xiamen, Dalian, and Chongqing, along with heads of China offices of relevant international organisations and representatives of Sanya’s local cultural and tourism enterprises.
As a major gateway for cultural and tourism exchange of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the event will leverage site visits and exchanges to comprehensively showcase Sanya's achievements in ecological conservation, leisure tourism, and cultural continuity. It will also serve as a practical platform for Chinese coastal cities to share development experience and foster cooperation opportunities with the international community. The event will offer an invaluable exchange opportunity for international tourism experts to deepen interaction between the Chinese and foreign tourism sectors. Additionally, it is expected to promote coordinated ecological, cultural, and economic development among tropical coastal cities worldwide, injecting new momentum into the innovative, high-quality development of coastal tourism destinations.
About the Sanya Tourism Board
The Sanya Tourism Board (STB) is a statutory institution launched by the Sanya Municipal People's Government. Fulfilling the mission entrusted by the state to Hainan FTP to boldly experiment and explore, STB aims to comprehensively enhance the competitiveness and reputation of Sanya as an international tourism destination and become an important platform for efficiently serving the construction of an international center for tourism and consumption in Hainan.
The STB makes tourism promotion plans for Sanya, collaborates with tourism-related enterprises for joint marketing, and carries out such functions as MICE industry development, overseas route development, large-scale activity planning, and business development centered around the six major elements of tourism, such as food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment, thus ensuring both city brand promotion and the boost of tourism consumption. Visit www.visitsanya.com.
