An aerial view of an island in Zhoushan. [Photo/The official news website of Zhoushan]

Two tourism development plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period have been approved by the General Office of the State Council, highlighting Zhoushan's role in advancing marine tourism and building a high-quality tourism industry.

The Tourism Powerhouse Development Plan calls for improving island tourism, enhancing marine tourism development in areas including the Zhoushan Archipelago, and creating more marine-themed cultural and tourism destinations.

It also supports the development of coastal leisure, diving, island tours, marine sports, cruises, and yacht tourism.

The Zhejiang tourism development plan also identifies Zhoushan as a key area for expanding coastal and island tourism. It encourages the development of island parks, marine sports, sea fishing, self-driving island tours, and cruise-yacht products, while promoting more marine-themed cultural events and tourism brands.

The plan also highlights new tourism formats, including low-altitude tourism routes such as Zhoushan-Jiande and Deqing-Zhoushan, as well as island sightseeing flights. It calls for more targeted tourism products for travelers of different ages and stronger international tourism offerings based on destinations such as Putuo district.

For Zhoushan, the plan sets out a goal of developing a nationally recognized marine tourism destination through an integrated approach combining island ecology, culture, sports, and tourism.

In 2025, Zhoushan received 24.143 million tourist visits, up 12.4 percent year-on-year, and generated 35.07 billion yuan ($5.17 billion) in comprehensive tourism revenue, an increase of 12.8 percent.

By 2030, the city's tourism industry is expected to contribute 18 billion yuan in added value, accounting for 6 percent of GDP, with annual visitor numbers reaching 46 million.