(Yicai Global) May 6 -- Southern China's Hainan has stepped up its efforts to attract more tourists from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the run-up to opening more direct flight routes. 

A delegation from Hainan visited some large tourism service providers in Dubai and reached preliminary cooperation agreements with local media companies to promote the Chinese island destination once the Haikou-Dubai direct flight route opens, China News Service reported yesterday. The route is expected to be launched this year.  

The delegation held a Hainan tourism symposium in Doha, inviting representatives from the Qatar National Tourism Council, local media, as well as travel agents, to boost cooperation. 

The group also participated in the 2019 Arabian Travel Market trade expo in Dubai to promote marine, eco-friendly, and golf tourism products.

Hainan will continue to innovate new marketing methods, support the opening of new travel routes, and enlarge the effect of the visa exemption policy for 59 countries, an official from Hainan's Tourism Commission told China News Service.

Editor: Emmi Laine