Sanya duty-free sales heat up as overseas repeat visitors grow

Since the new offshore duty-free policy was implemented, Sanya has seen duty-free sales hit 21.5 billion yuan ($3.22 billion), with 3.2 million shoppers and 16.5 million items sold. These figures represent year-on-year increases of 15.4 percent, 5.4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

On Nov 1 of last year, the policy underwent its tenth round of optimization. The range of products expanded from 45 to 47 categories, introducing six types of high-quality domestic goods like clothing, shoes, hats and tea into duty-free channels.

Seizing this opportunity, Sanya's duty-free stores have refined their product offerings, bringing in cutting-edge international brands and essential consumer goods.

This has resulted in a comprehensive product lineup that includes high-end cosmetics, luxury bags, digital gadgets, imported beverages and baby products, meeting the diverse and quality-focused demands of visitors to Hainan.

Domestic and international customers shop for cosmetics at Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex. [Photo/VCG]

To ensure the smooth operation of the new policy, Haikou Customs has rolled out an "inspect and release immediately" model, ensuring popular items are restocked quickly and made available promptly. In the first year, the customs oversaw sales of new product categories worth 210 million yuan and domestic products totaling 240 million yuan.

The benefits of the new policy are directly reaching the public. It allows local residents with records of leaving the island within a calendar year to purchase duty-free goods for on-the-spot pickup without limit. Duty-free shopping has become a regular part of daily life, with imported baby products and snacks gaining popularity, turning occasional shopping into a routine.

The policy also allows offshore and departing tourists to benefit from duty-free shopping, with purchases counting towards their annual duty-free limit of 100,000 yuan and no limit on the number of transactions. This enhancement boosts the appeal of shopping in Hainan for international visitors.

For foreign tourists, Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex has introduced multilingual translation services, bilingual signs and multiple payment options to make shopping easier and more convenient for global visitors.

The impact of policy changes is evident at Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex. "The most noticeable change is the wider variety of products. New international arrivals are coming in faster, and more domestic products are available," said a representative from China Duty Free Group Sanya Downtown Duty-Free Store Co Ltd. Visitors can enjoy global products while also discovering the charm of domestic goods.

The customer base is becoming more diverse as well. Among foreign shoppers, those from Russian-speaking countries and regions make up over 60 percent. To cater to tourists from various countries, Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex continues to enhance its services with multilingual staff members, improved shopping guidance, and multiple payment methods.