“Island-hopping tour” means linking several islands together so that visitors can explore multiple islands within a single day. The Gaoji Sea Dike opening project is set to be completed by June next year, which will eliminate navigation barriers around Xiamen’s waters. Xiamen also expects to launch its first “island-hopping tour” in the second half of next year.
Xiamen will adopt an “individual island, individual strategy” approach, carrying out ecological restoration on one to two islands per year, while improving infrastructure such as island transportation to support the development of “island-hopping tours.” Currently, the Tuyu Restoration Project, jointly invested in by the State Oceanic Administration and Xiamen City, has been scheduled, and Tuyu is expected to become a beautiful highlight in the Xiamen-Jinmen sea area.
According to data from Next Stop Self-Guided Travel Network, Xiamen currently has 17 uninhabited islands larger than 500 square meters. The city generally adopts a principle of “using while protecting” these islands. How to better protect the marine ecological environment during development and utilization is undoubtedly the most crucial challenge for this project.