SANYA -- Atlantis Sanya, the first Atlantis resort in China and the third in the world, has been formally opened to tourists in Sanya, a tourist destination in south China's island province of Hainan.

A grand ceremony was held Saturday to mark the opening of the resort, an integrated entertainment destination at Haitang Bay and owned by Fosun Group and managed by Kerzner International. It features more than 80,000 marine species in its own aquarium, underwater suites, and a variety of ocean-themed activities.

"I hope Atlantis Sanya will attract more international tourists and become another high-quality, family-friendly destination in Sanya to promote development of the island's tourism industry," said Guo Guangchang, chairman of the board of Fosun.

In a trial operation, the resort opened part of its facilities to tourists during the Spring Festival holiday in February.

From May 1, tourists from 59 countries will have visa-free access to Hainan. Hainan received more than 67 million tourists last year, up 12 percent from the previous year.