Abstract: To investigate tourists’ awareness of beach safety and rip current, a questionnaire survey was conducted on six recreational beaches in South China. The survey covered five parts, including demographic characteristics, beach visit information, swimming ability, and awareness of beach safety and rip current. During the survey, educational strategies were implemented to enhance tourists’ understanding of rip currents, and the effectiveness of these strategies was scientifically evaluated. The findings indicate that: Beachgoers lack awareness of beach safety and rip currents in China. After the implementation of educational interventions, there is a significant improvement in the accuracy of respondents’ choices of safe swimming areas, identification of rip currents in images, and selection of correct escape routes. Implementing educational interventions can greatly increase tourists’ awareness of beach safety and rip currents, and it is recommended that local governments and management agencies strengthen public education and outreach efforts regarding knowledge of rip currents, as well as enhance beach safety management capabilities. These measures can reduce accidents caused by rip currents and ensure the safety of beach tourism.