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And officials insist their target market is not the super-rich but China's growing middle class of urban white-collar workers. They say that by 2016 China will have 100 million such households with enough disposable income to spend on leisure pursuits like yachting.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, golf's ruling body, addresses a forum on golf and tourism on March 18, 2010 in Haikou. [Chen Chao/china.org.cn]

Sean Langdon of Pacific Allied Nautica says he is aiming at middle class customers with fiberglass speedboats that sell for around US$20,000. The company employs 50 skilled boat builders in Haikou and is expanding production facilities to Hainan's major resort, Sanya. It is exactly the kind of win-win investment officials hope will transform the island's economy.

But many locals remain unconvinced by the government's strategy. The main complaint is soaring house prices, up by around 50 percent over the past year. Residents blame the hype about the government's new tourism strategy. Officials admit it is a problem.

"It's a fact that property prices have risen too high in Hainan. The provincial authorities are working with city and county officials to improve our management of the property market. We have taken action, and you will see real changes by early May," said Tan Li.

And Tan says the government is determined to resist a return to Hainan's doubtful reputation. "Hainan will never follow Macao down the road of opening casinos," he said. 

 

 

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