The Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities was established in 2002 with the aim of revitalizing the tourism industry across the Asia-Pacific region by fostering cooperation among cities and organizations. It serves as a platform for urban collaboration to achieve prosperity in tourism development. Since September 2023, to enhance its global influence and promote tourism development and cooperation among cities worldwide, the organization officially renamed itself as the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities. Currently, TPO has 131 cities and related entities from 16 countries as its members.

Sanya joined TPO in 2003 and was elected as a member of the TPO Executive Committee in March 2010. The 18th TPO Executive Committee Meeting and Forum were held in Sanya in April 2011, attended by approximately 30 representatives from 10 cities across 6 countries. The 7th TPO General Assembly took place in Haitang Bay, Sanya, in May 2015, attracting over 100 mayors from tourism cities in the Asia-Pacific region and experts from both domestic and international tourism sectors.

The first TPO Forum was held in 2004 and has been held biennially since then. Each event attracts over 100 representatives from many countries and regions. Previous forums have been held in countries such as South Korea, Russia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, drawing government leaders, international organizations, and business representatives. These forums have significantly promoted the development of the tourism industry and have become crucial platforms for global city-to-city exchange and cooperation. They provide important opportunities to foster sustainable development and innovation in tourism and offer diverse choices for future collaborations in tourism, culture, economics, and trade.