Prologue: In a much-anticipated event, particularly in light of recent travel retail industry developments, the 2026 China Duty Free Group Global Partners Meeting was held in Shanghai on 27 March.
Themed ‘Grow Beyond’ the gathering attracted a powerful and diverse audience of industry leaders, government representatives, brand owners, partners across the entire industry chain, academics, and industry experts including The Moodie Davitt Report (represented by Chief China Representative Zhang Yimei) from the international travel retail media.
We proudly present a detailed report in two parts (click here for part one).
The 2026 China Duty Free Group Global Partners Meeting was graced by China Tourism Group General Manager and China Duty Free Group Chairman Fan Yunjun; Jiang Zengwei, Chairman of the Council of the Global Alliance for Trade in Services; and Hainan Provincial Government Deputy Secretary-General Chen Wanxin, who each delivered a speech.
The meeting attracted over 350 global brand owners and more than 1,000 guests – the biggest attendance in the event’s history.
The occasion also featured a two-day cdf Member Carnival, integrating high-level industry dialogue with an immersive consumer experience.
This dual platform signified that CDFG is adopting a more open and dynamic approach, working hand in hand with global partners to draw a new blueprint for development, the company pointed out.
Aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan to drive multi-dimensional retail growth
In a well-received keynote address, Fan Yunjun emphasised several key concepts. One was ‘Jointly Launching’, i.e. joining hands with global partners to embark on a new journey of cooperation; while ‘New Horizons’ symbolises breaking boundaries, moving upwards, and working together to create a broader realm of development.
Fan pointed out that CDFG parent China Tourism Group, as the only central enterprise with tourism as its primary business, has always been committed to national strategy and serving the nation’s overall development.
CDFG has achieved a series of significant results in the past year, he pointed out. For example, it won duty-free operating rights at core airports such as Beijing Capital and Shanghai’s twin gateways of Pudong and Hongqiao; and established downtown duty-free shops in 13 key cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Fuzhou.
CDFG also recently opened a boutique at Singapore Changi Airport and, particularly notably, recently acquired DFS Greater China’s travel retail business.
The operational efficiency of Hainan’s offshore duty-free business has continued to improve, and the vitality of the integrated development of the ‘tourism + duty-free’ strategy, so critical to CDFG’s contemporary approach, continues to evolve.
Fan said CDFG is anchoring its positioning as a “world-class digitalised travel retailer”, taking the 15th Five-Year Plan period as a crucial stage for high-quality development.
In doing so, it is focusing on four key tracks, Fan said: duty-free, integrated airport and downtown travel retail, quality online retail, and internationalisation.
He emphasised CDFG will always uphold the principles of “honest operation and high-quality service”. In doing so, “upholding integrity and innovation, improving quality and efficiency, and integrated development” will be the company’s fundamental guidelines.
Addressing a fast-evolving market landscape, Fan said CDFG will transform from a “passive” to an “active” business model, focusing on “expanding product categories, optimising services and strengthening operations”.
He pledged CDFG would work hand in hand with global partners to provide consumers worldwide with a wider range of products and a better service experience.
Guided by the principles of upholding fundamental values while pursuing innovation, enhancing quality and efficiency, and fostering integrated growth, CDFG will transition from a traditional “storefront” model to a proactive, market-driven approach, Fan said.
Reconstructing the development paradigm
In a powerful and insightful address, CDFG President and Board Director Chang Zhujun (Luke Chang) elaborated on the company’s vision and strategy.
He noted the travel retail market is undergoing a fundamental restructuring rather than a mere cyclical recovery. The industry’s development paradigm is transforming and channel boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, Chang noted.
Chinese consumers have evolved from “shoppers” who simply pursue functionality and price to “lifestyle seekers” who seek holistic experiences, emotional value, immediate responsiveness and self-identity, he observed.
Faced with this transformation, CDFG will focus on four key areas – “creating new scenarios, releasing new value, activating new engines, and building a new ecosystem” – working hand-in-hand with global partners to build a new retail ecosystem, he concluded. ✈
{Look out for further reports on this seminal gathering, coming soon}
