News
The September 2011 issue of Haikou Guide has just arrived. (International mail is quite slow.) Haikou Guide is an English language bi-monthly newsletter. Copies and other information on Haikou are available in the Scottsdale Sister Cities office for those who wish to read it. The following articles are taken from this newsletter.
The past two years have reaped an early harvest of accomplishments in Hainan Province. The fast rail link between Haikou and Sanya to the south shortens traveling time by nearly half. New roads and high rise buildings are changing the island’s face each day. The Chinese central government has granted preferential policies such as a new value added tax refund and new duty free shops to Haikou and Hainan Province.
On August 24th Haikou was granted an Integrated Free Trade Zone. Ten projects are under negotiation or construction. They include new warehouses and distribution centers.
Taiwan’s China Airlines plans to open a direct Taipei-Haikou flight. This provides an alternate route from Scottsdale to Haikou. Previously flights through Hong Kong and Guangzhou provided the best connections into our sister city. A recent visit by a Scottsdale delegation to Taipei determined that Taiwan travel agents are now approved to operate in China..
On July 1, direct rail service between Haikou and Chengdu were initiated.
A possible business opportunity: The best coffee in the world grows between 15 degrees latitude north and the tropic of cancer. North Hainan Island is ideal coffee growing region. Hainan people believe theirs is outstanding coffee, especially that grown on the Cheng Maifu Mountain. The Hainan coffee’s consistency is think and it’s taste is not bitter, with a slight fruit flavor. Hainan growers and exporters are gearing up to market their coffee internationally.
In March while Mayor Lane was in Haikou, the Chinese National Government designated Hainan as an official tourist destination for Chinese and hopefully international guests. Now China has 300 million middle class citizens. Hainan and its capital Haikou will become the snowbird destination for Chinese in Shanghai, Beijing, and industrial cities of the north.
Haikou’s GDP grew 25% from 2009 to 2010. This is more than double the growth of the rest of China. The government spending in Haikou grew 62 % from 2009 to 2010. At this time 12 new golf courses with vacation homes, resorts and spas are being built in Haikou. Scottsdale resident Brian Curley is responsible for the design of those golf courses. Plans are being developed for additional government sponsored golf courses, resorts, spas, water parks, RV parks to be built in Haikou. A delegation responsible for this new project is visiting Scottsdale in March 2011.
Haikou’s focus is on green and sustainable industrial development. In addition to the development as a sports tourism site, it is focused on attracting high technology, green and sustainable industry and educational capability.
Mayor Lane's comments about Scottsdale Sister Cities efforts with Haikou
Haikou is now Scottsdale's newest sister city. The mayors of the two cities signed a sister city agreement in Haikou on March 20, 2010.
Haikou is the capital of China's island province of Hainan. It is located just south of mainland China in the South China Sea. Scottsdale and Haikou have many similarities. Both have extensive resort, spa and golf properties, are premier tourism cities and are warm weather destinations for winter visitors. Haikou is Scottsdale's Gateway to China. The sister city relationship will be mutually beneficial to both cities with medical technology, educational, cultural and student exchanges under discussion.
海口，海南，中国
海口市是斯高岱最新建立的友好交流城市。2010年3月20日，斯高岱市长吉姆∙兰尼先生和海口市市长徐唐先先生共同签署了海口与斯高岱建立友好交流城市关系的正式协议书。两地在地域和经济等各方面的共性包括：都拥有温暖的四季；都是大批北方城市旅游者冬季首选的旅游胜地；完美的高尔夫球场及设施，五星级酒店，美容及各种 娱乐休闲设施；出色的城市设计和优秀的学校等等。
海口市是中国岛屿省份海南省的省会，位于中国大陆的南部。海口市将为斯高岱打开通往中国的大门。此次友好交流城市的建立，将加速两地在文化，教育，经济，医疗科技等各方面的交流，使双方获益。