Sanya logs nearly a million passenger trips as holiday rush picks up

Sanya has really been moving things up since the start of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush — with passenger numbers on the routes between the mainland and islands like West Island and Wuzhizhou Island surging.

Statistics from the Sanya Maritime Safety Administration showed that on Feb 2-11 there were 19,000 ship movements in and out of local ports, carrying a total of 980,000 passenger trips, representing a hefty 21 percent increase compared with the previous year.

To ensure the safety of people traveling by water, the Sanya maritime authorities have taken a proactive approach — deploying a range of measures to enhance water traffic safety oversight.

For shipping companies, they've focused on ensuring that safety management systems are properly implemented and have organized specialized training for company leaders and safety managers.

Vessel inspections will focus on four key types of ships — with thorough checks on essential equipment like fire safety, navigation and communications devices, as well as mechanical systems.

They're also evaluating the practical skills of crew members to ensure vessels are seaworthy and crews are competent.

They've conducted targeted inspections to uncover and address safety risks of long-distance yachts and smaller transport boats with fewer than 12 seats.

All identified issues are noted down in a checklist, with clear assignment of responsibilities and deadlines for fixing them that will be monitored with follow-ups.

A representative from the Sanya Maritime Safety Administration said they would keep reinforcing the effectiveness of their safety inspections, in order to maintain stable water traffic conditions during the Spring Festival travel rush.

The goal is to ensure safe journeys for travelers and to support the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port with robust maritime safety measures.