According to the Sanya Municipal Health Commission, a tourist died after being bitten by an unidentified creature in Sanya and receiving unsuccessful treatment at two hospitals.
This incident is more than an isolated case—it has dealt a major blow to Sanya’s already fragile hotel and tourism sector, just ahead of the summer travel peak.
Renowned for its tropical scenery and pristine beaches, Sanya has long held a prominent position in both domestic and international travel markets, with its hotel industry once thriving.
A surge of luxury hotels helped Sanya build a large and integrated tourism ecosystem:
For example, 22 international hotel brands including Atlantis have opened along the 21.8-kilometer Haitang Bay coastline. The city has also welcomed the first local outlets of 26 global luxury retail brands such as Louis Vuitton.
However, recent years have brought increasing complexity to Sanya’s hotel market.
In summer 2024, shifting supply-demand dynamics triggered a marked decline in hotel prices.
Data from Trip.com showed that as of July 15, 2024, the average spending per booking at high-star hotels in Sanya had dropped by approximately 24% compared to the same period of 2023. Data from Qunar showed that average actual payments for booked hotel rooms also fell by around 20% year-on-year, with five-star hotels seeing a 25% drop.
Behind this is a growing imbalance—hotel room supply is outpacing demand, shifting the market into a buyer’s territory.
Now, the tourist's death may further dampen confidence, worsening an already challenging summer season.
Hotels and guesthouses counting on the summer rush to bounce back may instead face sluggish bookings and poor occupancy rates. This could ripple across the broader tourism chain—impacting attractions, restaurants, and retail—and making the recovery path even more uncertain.
