China plans to expand the southern island of Hainan, China's only tropical region, into a top international tourism destination by 2020, according to a declaration released by the State Council Monday. Also, the government aims to expand Hainan into a platform for international economic collaboration and cultural relations, a base for agricultural production and increasing resources and services in the South China Sea.

The government encourages developers to put up premium hotels and resorts in Hainan. Meanwhile, family-operated hotels and property-rental services will be confident, according to the declaration. There will also be an importance on the growth of the financial industry in the island. China will expand its yuan trade completion test program to Hainan Province and promote qualified tourism firms there to register on the stock market.

The government also launched other actions to boost the island's expansion, including rising oil and gas exploration, contributing more duty-free services, falling pollution and building new information networks and transportation. The plan also includes events to uphold modern tropical agriculture in Hainan, including tropical fruits and aquatic products, and enlarge its agricultural cooperation with Taiwan.

Hainan is a admired holiday destination among domestic travelers and some foreign tourists. In 2007 there were 18 million domestic tourists, and 750,000 from out of the country.