Clear Water Bay Marina in Hainan is undergoing a redevelopment programme aimed at strengthening Sanya's position as an international yachting destination and a link in a wider Asia-Pacific cruising network. The marina currently has 300 berths split between its main basin and a 2.2-kilometre canal.
Ronnie Wang, Senior Consultant and Director of International Business at Hainan Yaqing International Clear Water Bay Marina, outlined the strategy during the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival. He said the current redevelopment has been under way for about three years following a change of ownership.
Marina redevelopment goes beyond the berths
The programme has included rebuilding the clubhouse, converting an art centre into a boutique hotel and creating a dedicated performance venue. Clear Water Bay sits within a tourism area surrounded by beaches and high-end hotels, with another diving-oriented hotel expected to open by the end of 2026.
A further phase is already being planned. The direction is to make the marina part of a broader destination rather than a stand-alone berthing facility, combining yacht access with hospitality, events and shoreside services.
Hainan's free-trade status supports marine growth
Hainan's free-trade-port framework is an important part of the strategy. Wang said import-duty incentives are opening new opportunities for leisure marine activity, although some tax-free yacht purchases remain limited to vessels used for operational purposes.
He also described southern China as a connected boating ecosystem involving Hainan, Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In that view, marinas are the infrastructure that can link destinations while supporting tourism, hospitality, waterfront spending and yacht services.
International standards are the next target
Clear Water Bay Marina has applied for The Yacht Harbour Association's Gold Anchor Scheme as part of an effort to align operations with international marina-management standards. Training is another focus, with universities and colleges working with international academies on professional education for yachting and cruise-industry roles.
The marina also wants to increase its ability to welcome visiting yachts and international crews, not simply grow domestic boating demand. Recent growth in visitors from the Russian Far East is cited as one sign that Sanya can attract traffic from beyond China's home market.
A regional cruising network rather than a single destination
The long-term ambition is for Sanya to operate within a network of Asia-Pacific yachting destinations rather than in isolation. That requires not only more berths, but immigration support, professional marina management, technical services and a calendar capable of attracting international sailing and yachting events.
For yacht owners considering Asia-Pacific cruising, the development is worth watching because infrastructure remains one of the main constraints on regional itinerary planning. A stronger Hainan marina network could add another practical stop between established centres in Greater China and destinations farther south in Asia.
