Hainan province has intensified cooperation with prestigious universities in China and abroad to jointly build high-quality education projects since 2010. This is in line with the spirit of “strengthening the opening-up of education” as highlighted in the State Council’s Report on Promoting the Construction and Development of the Hainan International Tourism Island (No 44 [2009]).

In October 2015, the Hainan Provincial People's Government decided that Hainan University establish the International Tourism College.  

On Jan 28, 2016, Wang Lu, vice-governor of Hainan province, presided over a provincial-level special meeting on preparations for the establishment of Hainan University International Tourism College. 

In February 2016, the Hainan provincial education delegation visited Arizona State University. The two sides reached a preliminary agreement on the establishment of the college.

On April 9, 2016, the Education Department of Hainan Province, the Haikou Municipal People's government and Hainan University signed a tripartite cooperative agreement on the construction of the college, clarifying the rights and obligations of the three parties.

On April 22, 2016, Liu Cigui, governor of Hainan province, visited Hainan University and inspected the construction of the International Tourism College.

In April and May, 2016, the delegation from Arizona State University visited Hainan twice. The two parties signed a letter of intent and a memorandum of understanding, reaching preliminary agreement on issues including the setting of majors, talent training program, the scale of college and the teaching staff.

On Sept 28, 2016, Hainan University and Arizona State University officially signed the agreement on cooperation in managing the college.

On Oct 18, 2016, the Hainan Provincial People's Government officially applied to the Ministry of Education for the establishment of Hainan University's International Tourism College.

On Jan 12, 2017, the college attended the expert review meeting organized by the Ministry of Education.

On March 31, 2017, under the concerted efforts of the Hainan Provincial People's Government, the Education Department of Hainan Province and the Haikou Municipal People's Government, Hainan University and Arizona State University signed the new cooperation agreement and the regulations.   

On May 4, 2017, the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College, Hainan University (HAITC) was officially established. It started to recruit students in the same year, with the license number MOE46USA02DNR20171836N.  

On June 10, 2017, the Hainan Provincial Price Bureau, the Department of Finance of Hainan Province and the Education Department of Hainan Province issued a notice on the tuition of HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College, Hainan University.

On June 20, 2017, the Education Department of Hainan Province held a news conference themed on the establishment of HAITC, and briefed about the progress in international education cooperation and exchanges of Hainan province. 

On June 30, 2017, the inaugural meeting of the joint management committee of HAITC was held in the conference room 501 in the administration building of Hainan University.

On Sept 9, 2017, the HAITC welcomed its first undergraduate students.

On Sept 25, 2017, the first school-opening ceremony was held in HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College (HAITC) at Hainan University.

On January 2018, then vice-premier Liu Yandong visited the college.

On March 2018, the first group of permanent full-time teachers dispatched by ASU went on duty.

On September 2018, the first international student was admitted to the college.

On March 2019, the online course of EUGA set by ASU was introduced to build an English language learning system toward cultivating practical skills in English.

On November 2019, Michael Crow, president of ASU, led a group to visit the college and held talks with teachers and students.

On April 2020, the Party committee of Hainan University issued a guideline entitled Several Opinions on the Construction of the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College.

On June 2020, the college was approved to set up the Chris Ryan academician workstation in Hainan province.

On March 2021, Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan visited the college.

On April 2021, the college was approved to set up a master’s degree program with Arizona State University.

On June 2021, the first batch of students graduated from International Tourism College.

On October 2021, the college launched its 14th Five-Year Plan for future development.