CHINA. Hainan’s offshore duty-free sector delivered sales of CNY6.61 billion (US$912 million) during the Spring Festival holiday period from 14 January to 22 February.
According to Haikou Daily, 818,000 shoppers made purchases, with a total of 5.6 million items sold.
Key retail locations, including cdf Haikou International Shopping Complex, recorded a rise in visitor traffic, boosted by discounts, traditional performances and prize draws.
cdf Haikou International Shopping Complex Sales Manager Fu Muxiao noted that local government-issued shopping vouchers and electronics upgrade subsidies fuelled demand.
To streamline the shopping experience, Haikou Customs opened a ‘fast-track channel’ to prevent travellers from missing deposit refunds due to time constraints.
Customs officials proactively contact travellers, guide them to the fast-track window and prepare documents in advance, allowing for immediate verification upon arrival. This helps travellers speed up the deposit verification process and board their flights on time.
With high duty-free sales volume during the Spring Festival, Haikou Customs ensured a 24/7 supply of products, allowing popular items to be restocked within four hours.
The authorities also supported the use of drones for delivering duty-free goods to departing passengers, further improving delivery efficiency.
A representative from the Haikou Customs Port Supervision Department stated that they will continue to enhance supervision and services, maintain market stability, and provide a more convenient and high-quality shopping experience, supporting the sustained growth of Hainan’s offshore duty-free sector. 🏝️
