Since the construction of Hainan International Tourism Island became a national strategy, Haikou's tourism development has ushered in major opportunities, and the development of the yacht industry has attracted much attention from all sectors. What changes will Haikou, a city coastal and adjacent to a river, undergo in the planning and development of the yacht industry? Recently, the "Master Plan for Yacht Marinas in Haikou" newly compiled and published by the Haikou Municipal Transport and Port Authority and CCCC Water Transportation Consultants Co., Ltd. has pointed out the "course" for the scientific development of Haikou's yacht industry.

　　Haikou's Yacht Industry Emerges

　　As the central city of the northern cluster of the Hainan International Tourism Island under construction, Haikou enjoys unparalleled location and resource advantages for developing tourism compared to inland cities. Haikou has a convenient three-dimensional transportation network of sea, land, and air, providing good transportation support for the construction and operation of marinas. Haikou is located at the intersection of the "9+2" Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and the Beibu Gulf Economic Rim, and at the junction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. It is an important shipping hub in the South China Sea and the central city and transportation center of Hainan Province. In addition, Haikou has abundant shoreline resources, rich water tourism resources, and beautiful coastal landscapes, making it possible to develop water-based yacht tourism.

　　At present, Haikou has built the Haikou Bay Meiyuan International Yacht Club Marina and the Xinbu Island International Yacht Club Marina, with a total of more than 250 yacht berths. However, overall, Haikou's marina development is still in its infancy, lacking public service capabilities. The construction of marinas in Haikou has a relatively weak development foundation. Most existing marinas are private or club-style, lacking public marinas, and yacht sightseeing routes have not yet been developed, which has restricted the development of Haikou's yacht industry.

　　Pointing Out the "Course" for Haikou's Yacht Industry Development

　　It is reported that the "Master Plan for Yacht Marinas in Haikou" was formulated to further enhance Haikou's tourism image, accelerate the construction of marinas in Haikou, especially public marinas, protect and effectively utilize shoreline resources, promote the development of tourism and yacht-related industries in Haikou, provide a planning basis for marina construction in the coming period, and ensure the scientific and effective industry management by government departments.

　　Planning scope of marinas: Haikou's 136.2 km coastline (including 101.7 km of natural coastline and 34.5 km of artificial coastline) and the Nandu River shoreline. In addition to traditional yachts, the marinas also consider the possibility of accommodating tourist sightseeing boats. The planning period is from 2013 to 2030.

　　Positioning of Haikou's marinas: a comprehensive service base for the development of the yacht industry on Hainan International Tourism Island, a city名片 for the construction and development of Haikou as a provincial capital that is "livable, workable, educational, and touristic", an important carrier for the upgrading and innovation of Haikou's tourism industry, and the infrastructure for the development of Haikou's yacht economy.

　　Forming a "Three Zones, One Belt, One Center" Layout

　　A major feature of the plan is to highlight Haikou's characteristics. With the new round of tourism and urban development and construction of Haikou's east and west coastlines and Jinsha Bay, the coastal area will become the key area for marina construction. The upper reaches of the Nandu River shoreline are mainly for water source protection, the lower reaches are mainly for landscape control, and the estuary is mainly for protecting and maintaining the stable balance of the estuary and beach shoreline. Therefore, the layout plan of Haikou's marinas will focus on the coast while also considering the riverside.

　　The master plan for Haikou's marinas can be summarized as the layout form of "Three Zones, One Belt, One Center". "Three Zones"—the Changliu Cluster Area, the Central Urban Cluster Area, and the Jiangdong Cluster Area. From west to east, the plan includes Jinsha Bay Marina, Convention and Exhibition Center Marina, Wuyuan River Marina, Nanhai Pearl Marina, Haikou Bay Marina, Xiuying Port Marina, Haidian Creek Marina, Meilisha Marina (including Danna, Meilisha, and Baishamen), Dongying Marina, Ruyi Island Marina, Xinxi Cape Marina, Qukou Marina (including Qukou and Changningtou), and other marina areas.

　　"One Belt"—marinas along the Nandu River, including Xinbu Island Marina, Donghe Marina, Simapo Island Marina, and Nandu River Zhangwu Village Marina.

　　"One Center"—Haikou Bay Xiuying Port Marina, relying on the advantageous conditions of open waters at Xiuying Port, to be built into an international marina center for receiving foreign yachts entering the country.

　　Phased Implementation and Steady Progress

　　According to the plan, based on existing and under-construction marinas, the Haikou Bay Marina, Xinbu Island Marina, Meilisha Marina, and Donghe Marina will be completed before 2020; the construction of Nanhai Pearl Marina, Wuyuan River Estuary Marina, Haidian Creek Marina, Xinxi Cape Marina, and Qukou Marina will be initiated, basically forming a marina layout connecting Haikou's east and west coasts and the Nandu River, so that by 2020 Haikou will have 10 marinas with 1,320 yacht berths as a medium-term scale.

　　In 2030, the construction of Dongying, Jinsha Bay, Simapo Island, Convention and Exhibition Center, Nandu River Dongwu Village, and Ruyi Island marinas will be initiated, and the construction of other marinas will be completed, so that by 2030 Haikou will form a long-term development scale of 16 marinas and 3,500 berths.

　　The near-term construction focus: before 2015, based on existing and under-construction marinas, initiate the preliminary work for the construction of Xiuying Port Marina, Haidian Creek Marina, Xinbu Island Phase II, Meiyuan Phase II Marina, and Donghe Marina, laying a foundation for the construction of public marinas and water sightseeing routes. At the same time, initiate the construction of public tourist boat docks such as Donghe, Haidian Creek, Simapo Island, and Xinbu Island, to cultivate and lead the water tourism and sightseeing consumption market.

　　In addition, in response to the need for Xiuying Port to have the function of receiving foreign yachts, while constructing the marina, initiate the construction of office areas for maritime affairs, customs, inspection and quarantine, and border inspection, so that Xiuying Port can form an influential comprehensive public marina in the region as soon as possible.