Two new duty-free stores open in Hainan

Two new duty-free stores opened on Saturday in Haikou and Boao, South China's Hainan province.

It is hoped that the opening of the stores will further increase the tropical island's attraction to shoppers.

The new stores bring the number of duty-free shops in Hainan to four, with one already established store in Haikou Meilan International Airport, and the other in the resort city of Sanya on the southern tip of the island, the world's largest duty-free shop covering 120,000 square meters.

The Haikou store, located in the Mova Shopping Mall, covers more than 13,000 square meters, while the Boao store, near the Boao Forum for Asia in Qionghai site, covers more than 4,200 square meters.

Both provide duty-free goods in 38 categoraries, including perfumes, cosmetics, suitcase, handbags, watches, jewelry, and food, all purchased by China Duty-Free Group from countries of origin.

Nearly 200 brands such as Estee Lauder, Lancome, and Shiseido attracted huge crowds of customers on the first day of business, said Sun Lili, a manager at the Haikou store.

Officials with provincial government said the duty-free stores will sell high-end consumer goods to both locals and tourists, further boost tourism and related industries, and promote the construction of Hainan as an international tourism consumption center.

Central authorities eased the duty-free shopping quota from 16,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan in December, in a move to encourage tourism and domestic consumption, as Hainan island looks to establish itself as a major free-trade port.

The new policy applies to all passengers who leave the island by air, train and ship.

The duty-free shopping policy was introduced to Hainan in April 2011 to help develop the island into a world-class tourist destination by 2020.

The policy has adapted five times since, with broader coverage of shopping items and fewer restrictions.

More than 12 million tourists have purchased duty-free products worth 40 brillion yuan in Hainan, from April 20, 2011 to date, according to official figures.