CHINA. Sanya travel retailers have received the perfect Mid-Autumn Festival gift as new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases (excluding asymptomatic infections) fell to zero for the first time in 40 days.
The intervening period between 31 July and 9 September, sparked by a single reported case in Sanya on 1 August, has resulted in the mass closing of duty free stores in Sanya since 4 August (CNSC and HTDF) and 5 August (China Duty Free Group in Haitang Bay).
The authorities have been racing against time to eradicate the outbreak in order to kick start the island province’s all-important tourism and duty free sectors before the Golden Week holidays at the beginning of October. Hainan offshore duty free retailers would normally expect booming visitor numbers and sales from the last week of September.
If the Sanya, stores reopen soon, as seems likely provided there is no sudden COVID rebound, their holiday period success will hinge on visitor numbers to the island. Given the long-running crisis, many travel bookings are likely to be last-minute and gaining an advance read on business prospects will be difficult.
Retailers and their brand partners will accept that though, their only priority being to see the offline stores open and trading again.
As reported, the stores in Haikou run by China Duty Free Group, GDF Plaza and Shenzhen Duty-Free Group/DFS, have been trading since 28 August after being forced to close on several occasions due to the crisis centered in Sanya.
New locally transmitted infections in Hainan over recent days (excludes asymptomatic cases)
9 September: 0
8 September: 1
7 September: 2
6 September: 13
5 September: 30
4 September: 14
3 September: 24
2 September: 40
1 September: 27
31 August: 24
30 August: 36
29: August: 37
28 August: 34
27 August: 70
26 August: 91
25 August: 111
24 August: 217
23 August: 246
22 August: 205
21 August: 232
20 August: 440
19 August: 469
18 August: 441
17 August: 496
16 August: 482
15 August: 426
14 August: 582
Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
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