On June 16, the 2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events, themed "Sunny Hainan · Heart's Desire," took place in Hong Kong, drawing leaders from cultural and tourism authorities, industry associations, and key enterprises from both sides to explore cooperation opportunities. The event aimed to strengthen the partnership between Hainan and Hong Kong, leveraging Hainan's unique advantages as a Free Trade Port.
Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, and Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, attended and delivered speeches. Chen Tiejun, Director of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan, unveiled the "Top Ten Calling Cards of Hainan Tourism," which received enthusiastic responses from Hong Kong attendees. Participants agreed that the two regions have highly complementary cultural and tourism resources with immense potential for collaboration.
The events underscored the growing appeal of Hainan's Free Trade Port, which has implemented distinctive opening-up policies including "zero tariffs, low tax rates, a simplified tax system" and "tariff exemption for value-added processing" since the launch of special customs operations. These policies have made Hainan increasingly attractive to businesses and opened broader opportunities for Hong Kong investors and entrepreneurs.
During the "Invest in the Free Trade Port, Share New Opportunities" Symposium for Hong Kong Enterprises held the same day, four cooperation agreements were signed, covering high-end commerce, cultural and tourism integration, and regional industrial coordination. Hong Kong business representatives expressed strong interest in expanding their presence in Hainan.
Cooperation between Hainan and Hong Kong has accelerated since the signing of the Hainan-Hong Kong Memorandum of Cooperation in March 2025. In 2025, goods trade between the two sides reached RMB 9.35 billion, more than double the figure from 2020. A total of 793 new Hong Kong-funded enterprises were established in Hainan, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. Hainan has also issued offshore RMB bonds in Hong Kong for four consecutive years, with a cumulative total of RMB 18 billion. Currently, an average of four direct flights operate daily between Hong Kong and Hainan, with the fastest travel time under two hours, facilitating the rapid emergence of the "Hainan-Hong Kong Living Circle."
These developments highlight the deepening economic and cultural ties between the two regions, positioning Hainan as a key destination for Hong Kong investment and tourism.
