The 2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events, themed "Sunny Hainan · Heart's Desire," took place in Hong Kong on June 16, drawing leaders from cultural and tourism authorities, industry associations, and key enterprises from both regions. The events aimed to explore new avenues for collaboration and outline a future roadmap for the industry.
Liu Xiaoming, Governor of the People's Government of Hainan Province, and Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended and delivered speeches. During the promotional session, Chen Tiejun, Director of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, unveiled the "Top Ten Calling Cards of Hainan Tourism," which received enthusiastic responses from Hong Kong attendees. Attendees agreed that Hong Kong and Hainan have highly complementary cultural and tourism resources, offering immense potential for cooperation.
Since the launch of special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, its distinctive opening-up advantages—such as "zero tariffs, low tax rates, a simplified tax system" and "tariff exemption for value-added processing"—have become increasingly prominent. These policies have enhanced Hainan's attractiveness to businesses and opened broader opportunities for Hong Kong investors and entrepreneurs.
On the same day, the "Invest in the Free Trade Port, Share New Opportunities" Symposium for Hong Kong Enterprises was held, where 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 deepening their presence in Hainan.
Hainan and Hong Kong share a long history of cooperation, bolstered by favorable policies in recent years. Since the signing of the Hainan-Hong Kong Memorandum of Cooperation in March 2025, bilateral cooperation has accelerated. In 2025, goods trade between the two sides reached RMB 9.35 billion, more than double the 2020 figure. 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." The events underscored the growing economic and cultural ties between the two regions, with implications for tourism, trade, and investment under the free trade port framework.
