Yongxing Airport in Sansha, China's southernmost island city administered by Hainan province, is expected to open to passenger planes within this year, and the city will gradually open more to tourists, said Xiao Jie, the mayor of the city and NPC deputy on March 5.

Tourism is a key sector in Sansha, and civil aircraft are currently conducting test flights at Yongxing Airport, Xiao Jie told reporters at the ongoing Two Sessions meetings on March 5. The airport is expected to launch civilian flights before the end of this year. 

Because the city’s tourism infrastructure and other tourism-related facilities lag somewhat behind, the full development of tourism in Sansha will need some time.

The city is also exploring an inter-island cruise, and considering the possibility of increasing waterways and cruise ships, according to Xiao.

Officially established in June 2012, Hainan's Sansha is China's youngest city that administers to vast island groups and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea.