Sanya's institutional reforms fuel innovation, tourism growth

Sanya has made significant strides in strengthening institutional innovation, leading to streamlined administrative processes and boosting business growth and tourism.

Key reforms include cutting patent approval time from 600-1,000 days to just 50-90 days, significantly accelerating intellectual property protection for new plant varieties. Another breakthrough simplifies special permits for corporate research and development projects, removing the previous requirement for provincial or ministerial approval.

At Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, a new approval model for importing plant materials has reduced processing times from four months to one-two months. Through institutional reforms, the area has attracted 2,849 agribusinesses and introduced high-quality seed resources worth 1.16 billion yuan ($162 million) by the end of 2024.

To enhance the business environment, Sanya launched the "Haiyi Dui" platform, which uses big data to match companies with tailored subsidies, transforming "businesses seeking policies" into "policies finding businesses". This initiative, along with one-stop service windows, has earned praise from enterprises like Global ChargeWash (Hainan) for its efficiency.

In tourism, Sanya's "compensate first" mechanism resolves consumer disputes within 30 minutes, ensuring trust and convenience for visitors. The city welcomed 12 million tourists in the first quarter of 2025, up 5.05 percent year-on-year, supported by seamless payment solutions for international travelers.

With 24 institutional innovations recognized in Hainan Free Trade Port reforms, Sanya continues to drive economic growth through bold policy advancements

A batch of strawberry seedlings from Japan are being tested in Sanya. [Photo/Sanya Daily]