A cruise ship with a gross registered tonnage of 47,000 tons that can accommodate 1,965 passengers is ready for sailing, according to the ship owner Haihang Group Corp Ltd.

Hainan Harbor and Shipping Holdings Co is building another one.

"The tour prices will be relatively high due to the high costs of tourism infrastructure construction," said Huang Huaru, general manager of a tourism agency in Hainan.

However, experts said Sansha could only receive a small number of visitors provided the fragile environment there.

The founding of Sansha City will improve China's management of the region and help coordinate efforts to develop the islands and protect the marine environment, said Zhao Zhongshe, director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries.

Tan said local authorities will build more supply ships, ports as well as water supply and sewage treatment facilities to improve infrastructure in Sansha.

Meanwhile, authorities will also beef up ecological protection to protect island and marine resources and preserve the local biodiversity, he said.