China's Hainan Duty-Free Shops Hit Big Again During Chunjol Holiday

200,000 Shoppers Over 7 Days from 11th to 17th... Duty-Free Sales Reach 1.5 Billion Yuan
Sales Expected to Soar Again This Year Following Government Support Policies

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media such as Pengpai reported on the 18th that sales at duty-free shops in Hainan Province during the Chinese New Year holiday period reached 1.5 billion yuan (approximately 257.8 billion KRW).

According to the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce, more than 200,000 shoppers visited Hainan duty-free shops over the seven days from the 11th to the 17th. The amount spent on duty-free purchases alone exceeded 1.5 billion yuan. Chinese media reported that this is more than double the same period in 2019 before the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

During the Chinese New Year holiday period, Chinese visitors to Hainan Island are shopping at duty-free stores. (Photo by Pengpai)

As the number of Chinese tourists visiting Hainan during the Chinese New Year holiday increased, sales at nine large supermarkets including Carrefour also rose by 86% year-on-year to 110 million yuan.

In June last year, the Chinese government announced plans to build the Hainan Free Trade Port and raised the per capita duty-free limit in Hainan from the previous 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan. The government significantly increased the duty-free limit to stimulate domestic consumption.

In addition to the existing four duty-free shops, five new stores recently opened, including Sanya Hailv Duty-Free Shop, Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Park Duty-Free Shop, and Guanlanhu Duty-Free Shop.

Also, starting early this month, a courier delivery option was added for duty-free goods purchased by Hainan travelers. This service delivers purchased duty-free items directly to customers' homes.

Chinese media reported that various sales marketing efforts such as 20?30% discount coupons and sales promotions also contributed to the increase in sales.

China’s duty-free shop revitalization policy has predicted an increase in sales. Since the second half of last year, Hainan duty-free shop sales surged, eventually reaching 32 billion yuan annually, more than double the previous year. The average daily sales in the second half exceeded 120 million yuan.

Sales at Hainan duty-free shops have continued to rise this year as well. Last month, Hainan duty-free sales increased by 168% year-on-year to 4.05 billion yuan. Over 700,000 shoppers visited Hainan duty-free shops in January alone, and the number of shopping transactions doubled year-on-year to 3.7 million.

Pengpai explained that to minimize inconvenience for visitors, shoppers leaving Hainan are only required to submit a fever check and health code (Health Kit) without a COVID-19 nucleic acid test certificate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.