Hainan duty free gives shoppers a good deal

Yu Ran and Huang Yiming ( China Daily )

Updated: 2011-05-19

Shoppers wait to pay for their cosmetics products at the duty free store in Sanya, Hainan province, April 20, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Pilot project triggers buying spree for luxury items on opening day

The opening of a duty free store in Sanya, Hainan province, on April 20th has grabbed the attention of shoppers across China, many of whom will be relishing the prospect of being able to purchase luxury imported goods at competitive prices without embarking on long trips abroad.

By 7 pm on Wednesday about 14,000 customers had visited the 7,000 sq m store that offers 18 types of imported commodities, including jewelry, handicrafts, watches, perfumes and cosmetics.

The launch of the pilot duty-free project is another step by the provincial government to build the island into a more attractive tourist destination for both foreign and domestic visitors.

"We have been hearing about these good deals for months," said Wei Qinan, a tourist from Jiangxi province. "Now, it's real and I am thrilled," she said.

China's southernmost island province hopes to take advantage of its "4S" reputation - sea, sand, sunshine and now, shopping.

Before the store even opened for business at 10 am, members of staff were preparing for 16 tourist groups that had made reservations.

A crowd was also waiting anxiously outside the door, eager to hunt bargains.

"I was in Hong Kong when I heard the news that duty-free shopping was going to be launched here, so I didn't buy any luxuries," and took a plane to Sanya, said Wei.

She purchased cosmetics valued at 2,410 yuan ($370) and estimated that she saved at least 30 percent on prices in her hometown.

"I will come here again and tell my friends to buy duty-free products if they fly to Hainan for holidays," Wei said.

Teng Rui, the store manager, said they were gearing up for the large crowds expected over the 3-day Labor Day holiday from April 30.

"We have sufficient stock to meet expected demand," Teng said.

China International Travel Service (CITS) added duty-free shopping to their Hainan tour schedules.

"We have added duty-free shopping to all our tour packages to Hainan and will arrange regular shopping-themed tours in the future," Zhang Lingjie, deputy director of the domestic tour department at CITS in Beijing, said.

Zhang added that each tourist enrolled in the package would be rewarded with a discount coupon of 150 yuan at the store, plus a free drink.

Ten tourist groups flew from cities including Shanghai and Beijing to Sanya on Wednesday afternoon and headed straight to the store.

Ctrip, one of China's largest travel portals, signed a contract with the China Duty Free Group, manager of the Sanya facility, and offered their customers discount coupons worth 100 yuan and a free drink.