As global tourism recovers, Hainan leads the way

International tourist arrivals have shown a steady recovery with May figures reaching 89 percent of the same period of pre-pandemic 2019, according to Harry Hwang, director of the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific at UN Tourism.

He made the announcement during the ninth Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities Forum, themed "Open Cooperation and Innovative Development for Sustainable Tourism", which took place in Sanya, Hainan province, on Thursday.

Hwang stressed the significance of the Asia-Pacific region seizing the moment by fine-tuning visa policies and bolstering regional tourism collaboration to draw in more visitors. This proactive approach not only fosters the growth of the tourism sector but also sparks the prosperity of associated industries, infusing fresh energy into the regional economy, he said.

Cho Jaedong, director-general of the TPO secretariat, added: "Let us leverage our collective expertise to create new opportunities for sustainable tourism. This is not just about sharing ideas. It's about taking concrete actions that will have a lasting impact on our cities, our communities and our environment."