HAINAN Province has experienced rapid and sustained development since its proclamation as China's largest Special Economic Zone in 1988. The province is divided into five economic districts, each with its own infrastructure and favourable opportunities for investors.

Although Hainan is rich in natural resources and a forestry and agricultural centre, officials in Beijing and Haikou have mainly focussed on developing the province's vast potential for tourism. Accordingly, the Government of Hainan Province has instigated a series of preferential policies for tourism development. These include the "Regulations of Tourist Management of Hainan Province" and "Rule of Tourist Management of Hainan Province" which serve to protect the rights of tourists and tourism developers.

In addition, authorities have implemented the "Landing Visa" policy under which foreign business people as well as business people from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau who visit Hainan for investment, trade, exchanging economic technology purposes may immediately pass through entry procedures at the ports of Haikou or Sanya and go through the entry procedures at the ports in other provinces or cities.