BEIJING, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily.

Multi-stop itineraries linking Macao and Hainan emerged as a focus of a recent tourism exchange, with industry representatives exploring how transport links, local attractions and experiences could be integrated into new travel products.

During the Sept 20-26 exchange, tourism representatives from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan visited destinations across Hainan and met local counterparts to discuss tourism products and market cooperation.

Hainan recorded nearly 1.3 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, up 44.4 percent year-on-year. Macao accounted for about 13,000 of those arrivals.

Macao representatives visited a range of attractions across Hainan, including the Baihualing Tropical Rainforest Cultural Tourism Area, the Yahu Terraced Fields and Dream Xiangshan Aromatic Culture Park. Their itinerary also included the Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden, a duty-free shopping complex and a science and technology museum.

Huang Fu Lung, deputy general manager of Macao Gonbei Tourism & Development Company Limited, said the visit had given him a better understanding of Hainan and that he hoped to help bring more visitors to the island in the future.

Tang Ka Man, vice-chairman of the Association of Macao Tourist Agents, said tourism products should offer more than a series of attractions. Travelers also want to experience local life, he said, adding that small local businesses can help provide that experience.

Tang also suggested developing itineraries combining a stay in Macao with onward travel to Hainan. He said operators had recently noticed many travelers from Taiwan passing through Macao on their way to the Chinese mainland, prompting them to consider new multi-stop itineraries.

Tang said operators could explore connections through Macao International Airport and nearby Zhuhai Jinwan Airport for onward travel to Haikou or Sanya. One option, he said, would be for travelers to spend a night in Macao, visit local attractions and continue to Hainan the next day. He added that Macao operators were looking at ways to shorten transfer times and improve onward connections.

A Hainan tourism official said the discussions had given the province new ideas on how to raise its profile among travelers in Macao. The official added that Hainan could do more to develop theme-based activities for inbound visitors and pursue more targeted tourism promotion.

Hainan will take part as the featured province at the 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao from Oct 15 to 17, providing another platform for tourism exchanges between the two sides.