CHINA. Development of the Haikou International Duty Free City – anchored by what will be the world’s biggest duty free retail complex – is on target to open in mid-2022, following the recent completion of the main structural framework, China Tourism Group (parent company of China Duty Free Group) announced this week.
The extraordinary project, located at Xinhai Port, Haikou, occupies a plot of more than 675 acres, with actual construction spread across 485 acres. The site will feature some 930,000sq m of tax and duty free shopping space run by China Duty Free Group, spectacular leisure and entertainment facilities, offices and a high-end hotel.
[Click on the icon to view this video, courtesy of China Tourism Group, that shows the latest progress on the extraordinary Haikou International Duty Free City]
Developer China Tourism Group said that through the organic combination of a vast, high-quality shopping complex [to be run by China Duty Free Group -Ed] and other attractions, Haikou International Duty Free City will become “a one-stop comprehensive tourist destination and entertainment hub that should not be missed… a new benchmark for Chinese commercial projects and a beacon for world tourism retail”. Tourists will enjoy not only shopping but a mixed-use wonderland incorporating a snow and rainforest environment; aviation theatre; plus art and world-class gourmet offerings.
The next construction phase will see the building’s curtain walls and roof added, and internal work commence, the group said.
Due to the continuous release of policy enhancements and the resultant growth in consumption potential, Hainan’s offshore duty free business has ushered in unprecedented development opportunities, China Tourism Group said.
“As a leading participant in the offshore duty free sector, China Tourism Group continues to expand the Hainan market by building the Haikou International Duty Free City project, further helping Hainan to build a Free Trade Port and develop as an international tourism consumption centre,” the company said.
The project development and construction unit CDF (Haikou) Investment Development Co aims to deliver a world-class multi-use facility. Consequently it contracted renowned French architectural design company Valode & Pistre to head the main design. The firm specialises in urban design and architecture and has considerable experience in the duty free and tax free sector.
The giant themed atrium which will anchor Haikou International Duty Free City has been designed by acclaimed New Zealand company Weta Workshop, a design studio and manufacturing facility servicing the world’s entertainment and creative sectors.
Weta Workshop has won five Academy Awards and four BAFTAs.The firm and its co-founder Sir Richard Taylor are best known for their work on the film trilogy The Lord of the Rings (2001–03), directed and adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels by New Zealand director Sir Peter Jackson.
“With the participation of such internationally renowned designers, the renderings of Haikou International Duty Free City are awe-inspiring,” China Duty Free Group said.
The architectural design incorporates elements of Hainan’s nature and marine life to present an “ecological garden green city”.
Visitors will be able interact harmoniously with people, nature, and buildings, China Tourism Group said.
Overcoming huge challenges
As reported, China Tourism Group hosted a ground-breaking ceremony on 18 March 2019. All was well-set for project completion on schedule. However, in 2020, just as the project entered a critical construction stage, the COVID-19 pandemic struck China, preventing a large number of workers from outside the island returning to the site to work, posing huge manpower challenges.
“Waiting for the crisis to pass? Or take the initiative?” asked China Tourism Group. The company chose the latter path, working closely with local authorities to ensure that the key provincial project is completed on time. With the active support of the Xiuying District Government [Xiuying is one of Haikou’s four urban districts -Ed], nearly 80 workers were recruited from neighbouring villages and towns. The move had dual benefits, keeping the project on track while boosting employment for local migrant workers whose prospects had been hit hard by the pandemic.
In October 2020, the project again encountered unprecedented difficulties as the area was hit by six separate typhoons. In order to get the subsequently delayed construction back on track, a 24-hour workforce of some 800 construction workers was deployed to maximise the efficiency of eight tower cranes and 20 truck cranes and go all out to ensure the main body frame steel structure, weighing almost 30,000 tonnes was put in place on time. The end result was triumphantly unveiled last week.
Note: As reported, China Duty Free Group is participating with a large team at the inaugural China International Consumer Products Expo to be held in Hainan province on 7-10 May. The event is being organised by Hainan International Economic Development Bureau (Hainan IEDB).
For information, please contact Hainan IEDB Global Media Officer & Supervisor Ruslan Tulenov.
Email: lusilan@investhainan.cn
WeChat: Ruslan24
Global Investment Service Hotline: +86 4008413413
Website: www.investhainan.cn
*Hainan Island: Travel retail’s global hotspot The Moodie Davitt Report will publish a Hainan Island Special Report with the China edition of The Magazine this month. Written by Martin Moodie and Dermot Davitt, it explores how the offshore duty free business in China has become critical to the world’s leading brands across many categories. 海南:旅游零售业的全球焦点 穆迪戴维特报告(Moodie Davitt Report)将于2021年2月随The Magazine的中文版发表《海南特别报道》。该篇由马丁·穆迪(Martin Moodie)和德莫特·戴维特(Dermot Davitt)撰写,将探讨中国的离岸免税业务是如何变得对跨类别的各大全球领先品牌至关重要。 报告将覆盖以下内容:
The report will feature:
Contact Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com to partner with The Moodie Davitt Report for this special edition. |