On October 27th, Beijing time, the 2025 ASEAN Cup Golf Invitational Tournament successfully concluded its entire schedule at the Luhuitou Golf Club in Sanya.

As a cross-border golf event focusing on the ASEAN region, this invitational tournament boasted a representative and diverse field. The event brought together 90 ASEAN players from 10 ASEAN countries and regions, along with over 30 Chinese golf enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, totaling over 120 participants, showcasing their sporting prowess and fostering friendships on the green.

From a competitive stage to a communication platform, the value of this tournament far exceeds the mere act of sport. It not only provided a professional and fair golfing environment for Chinese and international players, but also served as a "bridge of friendship" connecting players from China and ASEAN countries and regions through sports, effectively promoting in-depth exchange and coordinated development of golf in the ASEAN region and mainland China.

The tournament's opening ceremony was witnessed by several distinguished guests: Yao Wang, Director of the Competitive Sports Department of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film, and Sports; Liu Qi, Deputy Director of the Hainan Sports Lottery Management Center; Huang Xing, Director of the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film, and Sports; Zhang Hao, Deputy Director of the Sanya Municipal Tourism Development Bureau; Ma Le, Chairman of Starlight Hainan Media; Wu Yue, a first-class actor at the China National Theatre and a renowned mainland action film director; Zhang Lanxin, a mainland Chinese actress and Chinese national taekwondo athlete and the "Dragon Girl" of Jackie Chan's films; Zhou Zijian, a renowned producer and Golden Rooster Award and Hainan Island Film Festival venture capital judge; and overseas representatives Mr. Vincent Wee (Captain of Singapore Seletar Country Club); Mrs. Wendy Toh, Lady Captain of Singapore Tana Mera Country Club; and Mr. David Soh, Ex-Vice Captain of Singapore Tana Mera Country Club. Shan Namina Country Club's former vice-captain) attended the ceremony and putted together to kick off the official competition.

On behalf of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film, Television and Sports, Yao Wang extended a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all the guests. He stated, "Golf is an important component of Hainan's sports industry. We remain committed to cultivating professional golf teams, steadily advancing the development of youth training teams, and actively recruiting athletes and referees." Discussing future plans, Yao Wang stated, "We will leverage the unique advantages of Hainan's Free Trade Port's closed-border operations to actively introduce more high-level, points-based golf tournaments and fully support the establishment of more high-quality events in Hainan and Sanya. The ASEAN Cup has provided a great platform for communication. We sincerely hope that golf enthusiasts and competitors from all over the world will offer valuable suggestions for the development of golf in Hainan, helping to make this sport even better and more professional in Hainan."

Zhang Lanxin and Wu Yue praised the Sanya Golf Tournament, saying, "We look forward to seeing more friends from ASEAN countries experience the charm of the coconut island."

At the tournament, Chinese national taekwondo athlete and actress Zhang Lanxin couldn't contain her excitement in an interview: "I'm so happy to be participating in this competition, especially to be able to interact with athletes from ASEAN countries. I truly feel everyone's love for Sanya." She further expressed her hope that this tournament will serve as a link for more friends from Southeast Asian countries to visit Sanya—not only to participate in the golf tournament, but also to experience the unique scenery of this coastal city firsthand.

Also speaking highly of Sanya was Wu Yue, a first-class actor and director at the China National Theatre. Speaking of his impressions of Sanya's golf courses, he stated frankly, "Sanya's golf courses are both professional and spectacular, and are among the most distinctive in China." Wu Yue also expressed his expectations for the future: "If I have the opportunity, I very much hope to visit Sanya often, participate in more golf-related activities, and immerse myself in the sports atmosphere and charm of the city."

2025 is a crucial year for the Hainan Free Trade Port to enter service. The successful conclusion of this tournament is a vivid example of Hainan leveraging the policy advantages of the Free Trade Port to promote the integrated development of "sports + tourism." By building a new bridge for sports and cultural exchange between China and ASEAN, this event will not only attract more international tourists to Hainan for sightseeing and consumption, but will also enrich the "sports + tourism" product offerings, enhance the added value of the travel experience, and provide strong support for Hainan's development into an international tourism consumption center.

Notably, the tournament's innovative "event plus" model effectively extended visitors' stay in Hainan and boosted per capita spending. Many international athletes, after competing, took the initiative to experience Hainan's unique culture at Sanya's Thousands of Love Scenic Area and the convenience of duty-free shopping at the Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shop. This behavior further fostered the integrated approach of "using events to promote tourism and tourism to foster culture," injecting new vitality into the development of Hainan's "sports plus tourism" industry.