CHINA. “The overall environment of GDF Plaza Phase II is much more luxurious and magnificent than Phase I. Various categories and global top brands make customers feel that Hainan is an ideal place for duty free shopping.”
So said Ms. Li, a tourist from Sichuan Province, one of the first Mainland shoppers to visit the new Phase II of Haikou Global Premium Duty Free (GDF) Plaza, which was officially unveiled today.
As reported, the new duty free shopping landmark in downtown Haikou is located in the Aquarius building of the Haikou Mova Mall, covering some 30,000sq m and featuring more than 200 international top brands. GDF Plaza (with support from international partner Dufry) opened the 3,000sq m Phase 1 on 31 January this year in the Mova Mall’s Capricorn building.
Phase II embraces all categories covered by the Hainan offshore duty free policy, including cosmetics, perfumes, bags, shoes, watches, liquor, glasses, and jewellery.
Global premium and luxury brands such as La Prairie, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, La Mer, M.A.C, SK-II, Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Pandora, APM Monaco, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery and Luk Fook Jewellery are all present in Phase II, featuring a range of their most popular products.
In addition, high-end brands Stuart Weitzman and Maison Margiela make their respective debuts to the Haikou duty free market. In another highlight, See By Chloé enters the Hainan duty free channel for the first time.
Apple’s largest authorised duty free store in Haikou has been built on the second floor of the Aquarius building, creating a spacious and bright space to display the consumer technology house’s various products.
Recently appointed Global Consumer Boutique (Hainan) Trading Co Ltd Vice President Lim Guek Boon (Casey Lim) told reporters that with the opening of Phase II in the Aquarius building, the entire GDF plaza has been fully upgraded with more brands and products. This has in turn created a more pleasant and comfortable shopping environment for tourists and local customers, he said.
Customer reaction was very positive on the first day. “I didn’t expect to receive gold products as gifts for shopping and consumption here. There are so many promotional activities today and I shopped a lot,” Ms Huang, a tourist from Jilin, told reporters.
To celebrate the opening, GDF Plaza launched series of promotional activities including a -15% discount for gold products from Chow Tai Fook jewellery. The first 100 customers to spend over RMB3,000 (US$465) receive gifts of gold products.
From today, 30 August, to 1 September, GDF Plaza is hosting two daily livestreaming sessions to promote and sell offshore duty free products, including a maximum discount of -50%.
GDF Plaza has also introduced a membership sharing scheme with well-known Chinese travel platform Ctrip.com. Ctrip members can apply for a GDF Plaza Platinum or Diamond card and enjoy relevant privileges according to their VIP level at Ctrip.com.
Casey Lim told reporters that the second phase of GDF Plaza has further enriched the line-up of duty free categories and brands. The opening has also demonstrated the development potential for premium duty free products and boosted Hainan’s international tourism consumption, he commented.
GDF Plaza is now planning Phase III and actively negotiating to cooperate with international top luxury brands.
In the future, GDF Plaza will explore diverse and innovative development, Lim said, in order to advance the prosperity of Hainan’s offshore duty free market along with various other tourism retail companies.
Note: Every fortnight The Moodie Davitt Report publishes Hainan Curated, in association with Foreo, a selection of all recent stories from the offshore duty free sector in Hainan province.
Click here to view all back issues. Please email Sinead@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe free of charge.
