Hainan eyes intl hub for yacht tourism

South China's island province Hainan is opening its yacht industry wider with an eye of building itself into an international yacht tourism resort, according to an implementation plan released by the provincial government on June 20.

According to the Implementation Plan for Hainan-Hong Kong-Macao Free Flow of Yachts in China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Hainan will roll out convenient supervision and regulation measures in terms of entry and exit, sailing, berth, and tourism of yachts from Hong Kong and Macao in the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

An aerial photo of the Port of Haikou. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Hainan will carry out a new management mode for yacht entry and exit with five checkpoints and six marinas designated as part of the first batch of places for yachts to enter and exit Hainan or to berth.

The island province also defined special water areas open for yachts from the two special administrative regions.

The plan also reveals that Hainan will simplify the entry procedures for Hong Kong and Macao yachts, cancel the certificate of airworthiness for single voyages and implement mutual recognition of the yacht certificate among Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macao, as well as set up an electronic customs clearance platform.

In terms of management and inspection of entry and exit, the yachts from Hong Kong and Macao are required to report to the port inspection authority four hours before they arrive at or depart from the checkpoints. They should then go through the entry and exit procedures, as well as accept the inspection and quarantine in accordance to laws and regulations.

Yachts berth at Sanya Hongzhou International Yacht Club Terminal Port. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]