Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Strange Nature Gin from New Zealand, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
CHINA. When your brand carries the two most famous initials in the luxury business you don’t need to sell duty or tax free to lure Chinese travelling consumers in big numbers, writes Martin Moodie.
That’s the obvious message from the long queues gathered outside the majestically imposing (tax and duty paid) Louis Vuitton store that anchors the Sanya Yunjie Island duty & tax paid project in Haitang Bay, Hainan province opened by Swire Properties and China Tourism Group in late 2023.
Since the completion of its renovation and upgrade at the end of September, the Sanya Yunjie Island duty paid zone project has welcomed a flurry of luxury brands to be followed by the phased introduction of more than 90 renowned international and domestic houses.
Other brands among an expansive retail and food & beverage offer include the stunningly alluring Dior store (pictured below), Alexander Wang, Buccellati, Celine, Damiani, Fred, Loro Piana and others (all tax paid), plus a Starbucks Reserve.
The final offer will embrace an even more expansive array of luxury goods, sportswear and food & beverage, featuring additional household names such as Giorgio Armani, Hublot, Ralph Lauren and Tod’s.
As reported, Swire Properties is mainly responsible for the property leasing and operation management. The group’s vision is to create a premium international retail destination in Hainan.
Many of the stores are reliably understood to be turning in big sales numbers. But there is clearly one star of the show, the expansive Louis Vuitton boutique that is already shaping up as one of the luxury powerhouse’s biggest success stories in China. ✈
