The passenger throughput of Sanya Phoenix International Airport hit a record high of 20 million last year, as the tropical resort strives to become an international tourism center.
The city of Sanya is estimated to have hosted more than 20 million tourists in the same year.
Hainan received approval in April to build a pilot free trade zone covering the whole island and to explore the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics, said Yang Xiaobin, president of the airport.
Inaugurated in 1994, the Phoenix airport has seen rapid growth of passenger throughput, which hit 10 million in 2011 thanks to the resort's global attraction.
Overview
Haikou 
Sanya 
