Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan Wednesday urged attaching greater importance to environmental protection in the development of Hainan Province's tourism industry.

Local authorities should make proper use of Hainan's unique natural resources and properly protect the island's ecology while developing the tourism industry, Wang said during a three-day inspection tour from Monday to Wednesday.

He ordered relevant departments to improve tourism services and management while boosting efforts to build tourism infrastructure.

The central government announced in January it will develop China's only tropical island, Hainan, into an international tourist resort by 2020.