Sanya to host PATA annual summit in 2027

The Sanya Tourism Board recently received confirmation from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), that its 2027 annual summit will be held in the Chinese coastal city.

The PATA Annual Summit 2027 will be the tourism organization's first annual event held in Hainan following the launch of island-wide special customs operations in Hainan Free Trade Port on Dec 18, 2025, further boosting Sanya's international tourism profile.

Founded in 1951, PATA is one of the world's three major tourism organizations. Its annual summit is regarded as the weathervane of Asia-Pacific tourism.

The summit consistently brings together government tourism authorities, destination managers, tourism industry leaders and experts from around the world. They gather to discuss industry developments and future trends — playing a leading role in the tourism sector in the Asia-Pacific region.

The decision to host the PATA summit in Sanya is seen as a strong endorsement of the city's high-quality tourism resources, mature international hosting capabilities and its overall influence, and a sign of the international community's confidence in the policy benefits, business environment and open development prospects of the Hainan FTP.

Sanya's successful bid is largely attributed to its long-standing and stable cooperation with PATA. By successfully hosting the Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event in 2024 and 2025, Sanya demonstrated its experience and know-how in organizing international events.

In 2026, both parties will continue to work together on related activities, laying a solid foundation for the successful hosting of the PATA Annual Summit 2027.

Currently, the Sanya Tourism Board is closely collaborating with PATA, advancing preparations to a very high standard. The aim is to make the PATA Annual Summit 2027 an event that highlights Chinese characteristics, embodies the style of Hainan and showcases the charms of Sanya.