CHINA. Duty free sales at two offshore stores in Hainan Province accelerated by +25% year-on-year to RMB450 million (US$71.3 million) during the critical Golden Week (17 to 21 February). The figures were first revealed through multiple reports in Chinese state media (including Xinhuanet.com and Ecns.com), which The Moodie Davitt has since confirmed with China’s leading travel retailer, China Duty Free Group (CDFG) as accurate.
The reports quote Haikou Customs as their source. The two stores are managed by CDFG (Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex) and Hainan Duty Free (HNDF Haikou Meilan Airport Duty Free Shop), respectively.
The stores received 99,000 visitors, a +32% increase over the same period last year. Average daily sales increased by 2.8 times compared to sales before the holiday.
Cosmetics, leathergoods and clothing accounted for almost 70% of all sales, generating RMB300 million (US$47.5 million) during the festivities, the reports said. Around 493,000 items were purchased, a +37.3% increase on 2017.
China Duty Free Group’s Hainan Island business ushered in the Chinese New Year with a new pick-up service at Sanya Qionghai Bo’ao Airport.
Around 1,257 departing passengers used the service, collecting an overall 6,681 products during the week.
Hainan Island is a leading domestic destination for visitors from Mainland China, who can shop at its duty free stores under the offshore legislation implemented in 2011. Visitor numbers to Hainan increased by +10% year-on-year during the Spring Festival holiday.
