China’s tropical Hainan Island has been designated as the Asian stopover port for the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race.

The State General Administration of Sport and Sanya Municipal Government made the announcement on Friday May 20 in a press conference in Beijing.

The event was attended by a variety of guests, which included famous actors and actresses, Chinese sailors, the Chinese Yachting association and members as well as over 90 journalists and media representatives.

Former Olympic rower Hu Dong spoke alongside Chinese actress Hu Jing of his excitement for the race and plans to visit Sanya during the stopover next February.

Speakers at the event focused on tourism and recreation throughout China and the development of the travel and tourism industry in the Hainan Island province.

Hainan Island is currently a major holiday destination for Mainland Chinese, who flock to the island for its tropical coastline, empty beaches, immaculate golf courses, duty-free shopping and fresh seafood.

Tourism numbers have surged in the last year to the island that has been dubbed ‘the Hawaii of the far East’, since it has been the focus of tourism development in China as part of a ten-year plan to make the island an international resort destination by 2020.

The Volvo Ocean Race, considered ‘the Everest of Sailing’, starts in Alicante, Spain, in October 2011 and ending in Galway, Ireland in early July 2012. Teams of 11 will sail over 70,000km of sea over the nine-month period.

The Race will stopover in Sanya city in the south of Hainan around February 17 – 19, 2012, conveniently timed to coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations on the island.

Other stopovers in the race will include Capetown, Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Itajai, Miami, Lisbon and Lorient.

With 150 days left until competitors set sail, preparations are well underway in Sanya, including the construction of a stopover port in the Luhitou bay, which is expected to be completed in August.