CHINA. China Duty Free Group’s (CDFG) committed participation in the third China International Consumer Products Expo (Consumer Expo/Hainan Expo), hosted by Ministry of Commerce of PRC and The People’s Government of Hainan Province, is a testimony to the “innovative energy” of China’s travel retail market.
That’s the view of CDFG General Manager Wang Xuan, speaking during an interview with The Moodie Davitt Report during the Expo. “As the world’s largest travel retailer, CDFG continues to actively participate in all aspects of the Consumer Expo,” Wang said.
“We do this not only by bringing many high-quality global consumer brands to enrich consumers’ shopping experience, but also using the Consumer Expo as a platform to show the world the surging momentum of China’s travel retail development.”
As an important element of the ‘Year of Boosting Consumption’, this year’s Consumer Expo provides an important platform for global enterprises to develop the Chinese market, he noted.
On the one hand, Chinese enterprises going global brings hope and confidence to the world’s economic recovery, by optimising consumption supply and enhancing sales channels. Such globalisation also boosts confidence domestically and internationally.
On the other hand, the Expo is also optimising supply within China, opening up consumption channels, boosting consumer confidence and promoting domestic and international trade.
Over the past three years, CDFG has been deeply involved in the Consumer Expo. This underlines the group’s determination to play a leading role within the travel retail industry in providing innovation that in turn helps drive the global consumer market.
Wang said CDFG has underlined that support as co-organiser of the Third Global Consumption Innovation and Duty Free & Travel Retail Conference with Hainan International Economic Development Bureau yesterday (11 April).
The co-organisers invited a range of experts and scholars in the industry to a high-quality event that discussed global consumption innovation along with new opportunities for developing the duty free and travel retail sectors
The event was also designed to help all parties grasp changing trends in consumption and cultivate new growth points in an effort to promote upgraded purchasing. The event will help all sector stakeholders to grasp changing trends in consumption and cultivate new directions and new growth points to drive that upgrading, Wang said.
In addition to the exchange of ideas and knowledge, the key focus of this year’s Expo is ‘consumption’, Wang emphasised. He revealed that CDFG’s Hainan shops have simultaneously launched a series of activities to coincide with the event.
These include ‘Shop at the Consumer Expo – Shop at the New Seaport’ and ‘Duty Free Month for Cultural Tourism’, both taking advantage of the “east wind” of the Consumer Expo to expand the consumer market and boost consumer confidence.
In addition, cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex – the world’s largest single duty free shop which opened in October 2022 – is also hosting a range of exciting activities as a sub-venue of the Consumer Expo Fashion Week.
As a key player in Hainan’s offshore duty free sector, CDFG said it has been deeply involved in the province down the years. It has extended its presence by creating a multi-dimensional retail portfolio. This includes:
- cdf海口国际免税城 (cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex);
- cdf三亚国际免税城 (cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex);
- cdf三亚凤凰机场免税店 (cdf Sanya Phoenix Airport Duty Free Shop);
- cdf海口日月广场免税店 (cdf Haikou Duty Free Shop)
- cdf海口美兰机场免税店 (cdf Haikou Meilan Airport Duty Free Shop);
- cdf琼海博鳌免税店cdf Boao Duty Free Shop
Wang believes that Hainan’s offshore duty free sector growth potential remains great. He pledged that CDFG will continue to strengthen its presence in the province, including the highly ambitious Phase I Lot 2 project in Haitang Bay, Sanya, which is under construction.
Wang said that with the support of its parent company China Tourism Group, CDFG will make good use of the Expo and trading platform. The group will continue to amplify the knock-on effect of the exhibition and strive to attract more brands to enter the market.
He pledged that CDFG will embrace the concept of ‘doing business in good faith and providing quality services’ and provide an increasingly diversified range of quality services to consumers. The group will also boost consumption enthusiasm and help the construction of the Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics.
