Sanya's yacht tourism industry is riding a new wave of momentum as the South China resort city in Hainan province sharpens its ambitions to become the "Yachting Capital of the Asia-Pacific".

From January to September this year, nearly 130,000 yacht trips set sail from Sanya, carrying more than 900,000 passengers, according to data from the Sanya Yacht Tourism Center.

The surge in sea-bound leisure reflects both policy tailwinds from the Hainan Free Trade Port and Sanya's accelerated push to expand its maritime economy.

"With its pleasant climate, high-quality waters and long coastline, Sanya is suitable for sailing more than 350 days a year," said Qian Xiaoming, deputy director of the Sanya Central Business District Administration.

By the end of 2024, Sanya had registered 1,415 yachts, while more than 7,300 yacht-related enterprises had clustered in the city — accounting for 22.7 percent of the nation's total. By the end of September this year, the city had introduced 25 newly registered yacht-related enterprises, up 213 percent year-on-year.

At the heart of this boom is the Sanya international yacht center, a project within the city's central business district. The complex serves as a multifunctional service platform integrating exhibitions, transactions, training and tourism.

Built with an investment of 9.55 billion yuan ($1.3 billion), the facility includes two 16-meter-high exhibition halls — each about 9,000 square meters — and nearly 30,000 square meters of commercial space. It also offers training and study-tour programs, forming a complete ecosystem to support yacht-related industries.

The project is aligned with Hainan FTP's long-term plan to transform the island into a world-class tourism and consumption destination. It has been designated a "yacht-industry reform, development, and innovation pilot zone".

Policy innovation is also propelling the industry. A new rule approved by China's Ministry of Transport took effect on Oct 1, raising the maximum crew limit for FTP-registered yachts from 12 to 26.The move is expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve commercial value and attract more diversified charters.

Further reforms have relaxed import restrictions, extending the permissible age of used yachts entering Hainan from one to five years, boosting entrances by second-hand yachts. The province is also piloting "Hainan-Hong Kong-Macao-Yacht Free-Flow" and "entry-yacht bond-waiver" campaigns, making it easier for overseas yachts to dock, charter and circulate.

Infrastructure is keeping pace with the policy advances. Sanya Port, one of the FTP's key Customs projects, has begun operations, featuring Hainan's first dedicated yacht inspection berths and a smart Customs-clearance system that processes departures in as little as 30 seconds.

The standardized "second-line "exit procedures enable genuine "leave-when-you-want" flexibility for yacht owners — an important milestone in the FTP's institutional reforms.

Meanwhile, on the cruise side, construction of the Phase-I Sanya International Cruise Terminal is underway. The new 100,000-metric-ton berth will replace the existing 80,000-ton facility, strengthening the city's capacity to receive large international cruise ships. Once the island-wide special Customs operations take effect, the FTP's zero-tariff and low-tax regimes — combined with relaxed ship-supply and bunkering policies — are expected to significantly boost the attractiveness of Sanya to global cruise operators.

"Sanya's maritime sector has entered a new development stage," Huang Xing, director of the Sanya bureau of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports, told Hainan Daily. "Today, the 'City of more than 1,000 Yachts' is setting sail again, striving to become the yachting capital of the Asia-Pacific."

The bureau said Sanya has already built a nine-segment yacht-industrial chain covering training, Customs clearance, chartering and sales. The next step, Huang said, is to expand into yacht design, research and development, and manufacturing, while fostering auxiliary services such as digital management, maritime rescue and ecological protection to strengthen the value chain.

Sanya has been named the best city for yacht-development and best yacht-tourism destination for several years running. Global yacht brands increasingly use Sanya as a platform for product debuts and trade talks.

The Hainan provincial government has pledged continued policy and financial support to consolidate this growth. In its latest work report, it vowed to nurture new consumption and accelerate the development of Sanya's yacht industry pilot zone.

Ma Mengmeng contributed to this story.