11 SEPTEMBER
UPDATED STORY
CHINA. No new confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 infections have been reported in Hainan for the second consecutive day as authorities today eased the tight constraints imposed on Sanya since the outbreak began on 1 August.
The figures exclude asymptomatic cases, which are counted separately by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Of 959 indigenous cases in Mainland China, just three were reported in Hainan.
The fast-improving situation has prompted increased optimism for an early reopening of the duty free stores in Sanya which have been closed since 4 August (CNSC and Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex) and 5 August (China Duty Free Group) due to the Sanya-centred outbreak. However, while there are any cases, asymptomatic or otherwise, the authorities may err on the side of caution for a few more days at least, one senior travel retail executive told The Moodie Davitt Report.
Additionally, 136 people in the province were yesterday released from hospital after being cured and 267 asymptomatic patients freed from medical observation.
Hope of a prompt duty free store reopening were boosted by the Sanya government lifting ‘temporary static management’ (i.e. lockdown) measures by removing transport restrictions from noon today in 18 districts.
The easing applies to buses, taxis and online car hailing. Restrictions covering business districts, hospitals, and parks have been removed to meet the basic travel needs of citizens.
New Hainan, owned by Hainan Hinews Media Co, The Moodie Davitt Report’s strategic partner in Hainan, reported that the first phase of normalisation in Sanya will see the orderly opening of supermarkets, pharmacies, certain shopping malls (not yet duty free stores), convenience stores, maternal and infant product shops, barber shops and others offering daily necessities. Restaurants can only provide self-service and takeaway delivery services for now.
“It shouldn’t be too long before we can open,” one senior Sanya-based travel retail executive told The Moodie Davitt Report today.
The situation is also improving in Hainan’s key source markets with just 197 locally transmitted cases reported across the Mainland, almost half of them (97) in Sichuan province.
New confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 infections and asymptomatic cases in Hainan in September
10 September: 0 (3 asymptomatic)
9 September: 0 (3 asymptomatic)
8 September: 1 (5 asymptomatic)
7 September: 2 (3 asymptomatic)
6 September: 13 (6 asymptomatic)
5 September: 30 (9 asymptomatic)
4 September: 14 (16 asymptomatic)
3 September: 24 (21 asymptomatic)
2 September: 40 (29 asymptomatic)
1 September: 27 (75 asymptomatic)
Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
10 SEPTEMBER
Sanya travel retailers have received the perfect Mid-Autumn Festival gift as new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Hainan (excluding asymptomatic infections of which there were three across the province) fell to zero for the first time in 40 days.
The intervening period between 31 July and 9 September, sparked by a single reported case in Sanya on 1 August, has resulted in the mass closing of duty free stores in Sanya since 4 August (CNSC and HTDF) and 5 August (China Duty Free Group in Haitang Bay).
The authorities have been racing against time to eradicate the outbreak in order to kick start the island province’s all-important tourism and duty free sectors before the Golden Week holidays at the beginning of October. Hainan offshore duty free retailers would normally expect booming visitor numbers and sales from the last week of September.
If the Sanya, stores reopen soon, as seems likely provided there is no sudden COVID rebound, their holiday period success will hinge on visitor numbers to the island. Given the long-running crisis, many travel bookings are likely to be last-minute and gaining an advance read on business prospects will be difficult.
Retailers and their brand partners will accept that though, their only priority being to see the offline stores open and trading again.
As reported, the stores in Haikou run by China Duty Free Group, GDF Plaza and Shenzhen Duty-Free Group/DFS, have been trading since 28 August after being forced to close on several occasions due to the crisis centered in Sanya.
New confirmed locally transmitted infections in Hainan over recent days (excludes asymptomatic cases)
9 September: 0
8 September: 1
7 September: 2
6 September: 13
5 September: 30
4 September: 14
3 September: 24
2 September: 40
1 September: 27
31 August: 24
30 August: 36
29: August: 37
28 August: 34
27 August: 70
26 August: 91
25 August: 111
24 August: 217
23 August: 246
22 August: 205
21 August: 232
20 August: 440
19 August: 469
18 August: 441
17 August: 496
16 August: 482
15 August: 426
14 August: 582
Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
New China market launch
In July The Moodie Davitt Report launched 穆迪达维特中国旅游零售报告 – The Moodie Davitt China Travel Retail Report, a digital magazine dedicated to our industry’s hottest market.
The new digital title is published in Mandarin and English four times a year across multiple platforms.
This exciting new digital magazine from the world’s leading travel retail publisher focuses on all aspects of China’s travel-related ecosystem, including:
- Airport retail (domestic and international)
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