Last Saturday, international pop icon Katy Perry lit up the stage at a sold-out concert in Haikou City, Hainan Province on the Chinese mainland. Fans from across the Chinese mainland and around the world packed the arena, dancing to hits like “Roar” and “Firework.”
Hainan’s rise as a free trade port has spurred a new cultural tourism wave. By hosting high-profile concerts and events, the province is diversifying its tourism offerings and boosting local consumption. Recent initiatives have seen event organizers collaborating with hotels, restaurants and transport operators to create seamless visitor experiences.
Industry analysts say the concert economy is fast becoming a core pillar of Hainan’s tourism strategy. Beyond just single events, a growing calendar of performances, from pop concerts to classical music festivals, is drawing year-round visitors and driving spillover spending in hospitality, retail and entertainment sectors.
For business and tech enthusiasts, Hainan’s model showcases how targeted policy can unlock new economic engines. Thought leaders highlight its potential as a blueprint for other regions seeking sustainable tourism growth. For travelers and digital nomads, the island’s blend of tropical landscapes, modern infrastructure and vibrant nightlife offers a unique, immersive experience.
As Hainan’s cultural calendar heats up, the fusion of pop power and free trade port policies is setting the stage for a tourism revolution—one where music and policy work in harmony to shape the island’s future.
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Katy Perry shines in Haikou as Hainan FTP boosts cultural tourism
cgtn.com
