Hainan to increase duty-free products

A shopping guide answers questions on the cosmetic uses of a product. [Photo by Yuan Chen/hinews.cn]

Two new duty-free stores were recently opened in Haikou and Boao to help build Hainan into an international tourism center and increase its duty-free products.

The two new stores increased the total number of duty-free shops in Hainan to four. The two already existing ones are located in the Haikou Meilan International Airport and the city of Sanya on the southern tip of the island. The one in Sanya is the world's largest duty-free shop, covering an area of 120,000 square meters. The layout of duty-free shops has been improved and the shopping experience optimized.

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

More than 12 million tourists have purchased a total of 40 billion yuan ($5.92 billion) in duty-free products in Hainan, according to official figures.

The policy has changed six times since, being applied to a wider variety of shopping items and having fewer restrictions. In December, central authorities eased the duty-free shopping quota from 16,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan in a move to encourage tourism and domestic consumption, as Hainan island looks to establish itself as a major free-trade port.

The new duty-free store in Haikou is packed with customers. [Photo by Yuan Chen/hinews.cn]