Sanya authorities have recently intensified their management and enforcement on the 45 illegal hostels that were found to be operating without authorization. Of most concern, the weak safety measures of the illegal hostels make them especially vulnerable to accidental fires.

As the number of tourists to Sanya has skyrocketed in recent years, the number of unlicensed hostels has increased by leaps and bounds, raising major safety concerns from the fire authorities and the local government.

According to the local Supervisory Bureau of Tourism Quality, any hostels operating without fire safety certificates will be added to a blacklist.

Besides, the authorities will intensify their inspections on all hostels across the city and warn local travel agencies not to arrange accommodation for tourists with the unlicensed hostels.