CHINA. Shenzhen Duty Free Group has been awarded the arrivals duty-free concession at Xiamen Dongdu Cruise Home Port, a key maritime gateway on China’s southeastern coast and a strategic hub under the national Belt and Road Initiative.
The win enhances the Group’s presence at Xiamen Dongdu Cruise Home Port, complementing its existing departures duty-free store at the facility.
The location primarily serves cruise routes to Japan, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, connecting more than 20 ports across nine countries and regions through an extensive route network.
Recognised as one of China’s busiest and largest cruise ports, the facility recorded 136 international cruise calls and 413,700 passenger journeys in 2019, ranking second and fourth nationally, respectively. It handled 46 cruise calls and 130,000 passenger journeys in 2025.
The store occupies a 99sq m unit in the terminal’s arrivals hall, targeting arriving cruise passengers.
It benefits from the home port’s high passenger traffic and diverse route network, offering strong growth potential.
Building on its established departures duty-free operation, the retailer has developed extensive operational experience and consumer insights to better serve cruise passengers.
Shenzhen Duty Free Group will integrate the new store with its existing departures operation to create a seamless duty-free retail offering across both passenger flows, the company said.
The outlet will feature extensive product assortments and digital service touchpoints tailored to passengers’ shopping preferences.
The retailer also plans to align its retail strategy with Xiamen’s development as an international coastal tourism destination, supporting closer integration between the cruise economy and travel retail to enhance the port’s service standards and consumer appeal.
Looking ahead, Shenzhen Duty Free Group said it will continue to broaden its duty-free business portfolio and strengthen integration across its retail operations. It added that it aims to enhance its core duty-free business while supporting changing consumer demand and the continued development of China’s port economy. ✈
