Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 7, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua)

Sanya - Sanya, a "tropical paradise" in south China's island province of Hainan, has launched comprehensive Russian language services to cater to the surge in Russian tourists, following the visa-free policy implemented in September.

According to official data, Russian tourist arrivals in Sanya skyrocketed by 266.2 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, accounting for over 40 percent of all inbound visitors.

The initiative aims to eliminate language barriers and provide a seamless winter holiday experience for Russian tourists, local authorities said.

A key aspect of this initiative is providing extensive Russian language training for frontline staff. Specialized training sessions have been organized for those working at hotels, scenic spots, shopping malls, and transportation sectors.

You Na, a front desk clerk at a seaside hotel, can now fluently assist Russian tourists with check-in procedures, room descriptions, and breakfast schedules -- tasks she once found challenging and had to rely on gestures and translation apps.

Beyond hotels, scenic spot staff like Ma Zhi from Yalong Bay now uses Russian to share insights on coconut grove trails and coral reef conservation. "After my explanation, a Russian tourist appreciated Sanya's ecological efforts, which was incredibly rewarding," Ma said.

Sanya plans to further enhance services by launching Russian-language instructional videos, adding dedicated service posts at key scenic attractions, expanding multilingual guide teams, and improving signage and currency exchange points at transport hubs.