Official Announcement! Sanya Partners with Fiji, Adding a New South Pacific Partner to Its International Network!

Sanya Partners with Fiji: A “Deep Dive” into International Tourism Cooperation

On April 15, Sanya and Fiji signed a landmark memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation. Fiji, an island nation in the South Pacific, has become a “strategic partner for Sanya’s tourism promotion.” This marks the first time Sanya’s international cooperation network has extended to the South Pacific region.

This is not just a simple signing ceremony, but a deep collaboration between tropical island destinations—spanning everything from product development to market expansion.

Fiji: A Naturally Synergistic Partner

Sanya and Fiji—one on the shores of the South China Sea, the other in the heart of the South Pacific—are separated by thousands of miles, yet share a natural affinity: both are world-renowned tropical island resort destinations.

However, beyond their shared characteristics, the two destinations are largely complementary.

Sanya boasts a well-established coastal resort system, a wealth of cultural experiences, and comprehensive amenities, making it one of the most familiar high-end vacation destinations for Chinese tourists. Fiji, on the other hand, is renowned for its pristine marine environment and highly exclusive resort properties, holding a unique position among the world’s high-net-worth clientele.

More importantly, there is a high degree of synergy in the market. Dr. Paresh Pant, CEO of the Fiji Tourism Board, stated: “Our partnership with the Sanya Tourism Development Bureau marks a new phase of enhanced synergy in Fiji’s strategic expansion into the Asian and Chinese markets. As one of China’s most internationally influential tourist destinations, Sanya possesses extensive experience in destination management and global promotion. We look forward to achieving stronger synergies through this partnership in brand building, product innovation, and market collaboration, thereby jointly enhancing both parties’ competitiveness and appeal in the global tourism market.”

In other words, the target audiences of both parties overlap significantly; this collaboration is not starting from scratch, but rather building on each other’s strengths.

Cooperation Goes Beyond “Mutual Promotion”

According to the memorandum of understanding, the two parties will establish a regular collaborative mechanism covering tourism promotion, joint brand marketing, co-creation of tourism products, and coordination of exhibitions and events. This means that the cooperation will extend to multiple levels, including product design, channel sharing, and joint brand building.

Of particular note is that the two parties will work together to drive innovation and upgrades in tropical island resort products.

Specifically, the two sides will develop “Sanya + Fiji” cross-destination itineraries, collaborate with international hotel groups and travel agencies to launch “dual-island vacation packages,” and launch co-branded products with exclusive discounts on international online travel platforms (OTAs). At the same time, they will explore customized themed products such as “island honeymoon getaways,” “dual-city golf tours,” “diving and marine ecology experiences,” and “unique cultural and tourism performances.”

These products are designed to meet increasingly niche market demands—from honeymooners and high-net-worth travelers to diving enthusiasts and golf enthusiasts—offering immersive experiences rather than mere sightseeing.

A “Magnifier” for Free Trade Port Policies

Sanya’s ability to undertake such international cooperation is inseparable from the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The visa-free policy has made travel more convenient for international tourists, the duty-free policy for departing passengers has boosted consumer appeal, and the continuous expansion of international flight routes has provided channels for the flow of tourists. Bolstered by these policies, Sanya is not only a popular destination for Chinese tourists but is also emerging as a key hub connecting China with the international tourism market.

This collaboration with Fiji is a clear demonstration of how the policy benefits of the free trade port are being translated into tangible economic output.

Expanding Global Network  

Since 2026, Sanya has significantly accelerated its pace of international cooperation

To date, Sanya has established partnerships with nine organizations worldwide, including three “Sanya Tourism Promotion Partners” and six “Sanya Overseas Tourism Promotion Liaison Offices.” The city has forged extensive ties with countries and regions such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus, Hong Kong, China, Macao, China, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Overseas promotion liaison offices are emerging as a key focus area for this year’s efforts. Through these localized, forward-deployed marketing hubs, Sanya can more precisely target international source markets and enhance the effectiveness of its brand outreach.

From Initial Engagement to Deepening Partnerships

Huang Xing, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Sanya Tourism Development Bureau, stated that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Fiji represents a significant expansion of Sanya’s international tourism cooperation landscape. Moving forward, Sanya will leverage the open policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port to continuously deepen cooperation with high-quality global tourism destinations, promoting the interconnectivity of tourism resources and the innovation and upgrading of tourism products.

In the past, international cooperation among Chinese tourist destinations often remained at the level of “mutual promotion.” However, this partnership between Sanya and Fiji points toward joint product development, shared distribution channels, and collaborative market expansion—a true “deep dive.”

When two tropical island destinations decide to stop operating in isolation and instead jointly develop a “Dual-Island Tour” product, the beneficiaries are not only the tourism industries of both regions, but also global travelers eager to experience more possibilities in a single trip.

This may well be the direction for the next phase of Sanya’s international tourism cooperation: not simply expanding its network of partners, but ensuring that every partnership yields new products, new experiences, and new value.