China's island province Hainan sees double-digit growth in tourists

People from the Li and Miao ethnic groups perform a bamboo dance in Hainan province. [Photo/China Daily]

HAIKOU -- China's island province Hainan has seen double-digit growth in the number of tourists and their spending, authorities said on Sunday.

Hainan received about 53.36 million tourists in 2015, up 11.4 percent year-on-year. Tourists' spending reached 57.2 billion yuan (about $8.9 billion), up 13 percent year-on-year, said Sun Ying, director of the Hainan Tourism Commission.

Tourism authorities have strengthened cracking down on irregularities in local tourism sector to protect the rights and interests of tourists, Sun said. Nine travel agencies have their licenses revoked in 2015 and were fined 6.83 million yuan in total.

Hainan expects to see a hike in tourists' visits during the upcoming Spring Festival, or China's Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 8, when tourists travel to the warm island to escape winter cold in north China.

Sun promised the commission will work around the clock to handle tourists complaints in a timely manner and safeguard the rights of the tourists.