Hainan issues measures to boost duty-free shopping

Hainan recently issued an action plan on promoting the island's offshore duty-free sales and attracting the return of overseas consumption, according to the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce.

Consumers shop at Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex. [Photo/VCG]

The action plan proposed that high-quality expos, events, as well as festivals, such as the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) and the Hainan International Tourism Island Carnival, should be held to attract tourists. Duty-free shops are also encouraged to cooperate with hotels, tourist attractions, and travel providers, thus promoting integrated development between the tourism and duty-free shopping sectors.

In addition, the plan specified that the island will hold at least 10 large-scale duty-free shopping promotion activities this year, with provincial-level funding of at least 20 million yuan ($3 million) to be raised and distributed in the form of consumer vouchers.

According to the plan, more international well-known brands and products with competitive prices that are in great demand will be introduced to the island, while the infrastructure and management of duty-free shops will also be improved.

Since China released a master plan in June 2020 to develop the province into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century, Hainan has been striving to build itself into an international tourism and consumption destination, with duty-free shopping as one of its core competitive elements.