CHINA. Shenzhen Duty Free Group recently secured the contract for the arrivals duty-free concession at Weihai Dashuibo Airport. The 45sq m store complements the departures duty-free store managed by the same retailer.
The company described the planned opening as a milestone in its nationwide expansion and a pivotal move in bolstering its presence in the Jiaodong Peninsula and the Bohai Rim region in northern China’s Shandong province.
Weihai Dashuibo Airport is one of the country’s closest international gateways to South Korea, with a dense network of routes (led by regular services to Incheon International Airport) that serve as a corridor for economic cooperation and exchange.
The airport has seen a rebound in international passenger traffic post-pandemic, expanded route networks and a strategy for greater premiumisation in its retail offerings.
The airport welcomed 122,600 inbound passengers in 2025. Shenzhen Duty Free Group said this provides a “solid traffic foundation and robust growth potential” for the arrivals store.
Shandong province boasts a vast consumer market with strong purchasing power, added a company statement. The group said by leveraging its operational strengths, it will tailor the store offerings to the main traveller demographic (those returning from Korea), refining product selections and service quality, and ultimately elevating the retail calibre of Weihai Airport.
“We will seize this opportunity to align with national policies aimed at consumption repatriation and market revitalisation. Through the coordinated operation of both arrivals and departures stores, we strive to demonstrate our role as a state-owned enterprise in serving the development of China’s duty-free industry,” the statement concluded. ✈
