Hainan offshore duty-free shopping festival kicks off in Sanya

Women apply makeup at the Sanya International Duty Free Complex. [Photo/IC]

The second Hainan International Offshore Duty-free Shopping Festival kicked off on June 28 in the Sanya International Duty Free Complex.

From June to September, the event will feature an opening ceremony and 10 themed activities, so tourists can feel the charms of duty-free shopping in Hainan.

The China Dury Free Group (CDF) will join up with its six stores in Hainan and the Sanya International Duty Free Plaza of the China National Service Corporation (CNSC). Over 800 domestic and international brands in 45 major duty-free categories will undertake a series of marketing activities, including brand debuts, new product debuts and flash interactive experiences.

Meanwhile, organizers will combine the needs of different consumer groups - including those who want parent-child trips, graduation travels, and summer vacation journeys - to launch themed activities. These will feature a kid's clothing show, a fragrance festival, a glasses festival and an anniversary store celebration.

Organizers will also carry out themed promotion activities in 10 key domestic tourist source cities – including in Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an. It's expected that through activities with wider coverage and higher flexibility, the popularity and influence of Hainan's offshore duty-free sector will be enhanced.

From January to May this year, the total sales of Hainan's offshore duty-free stores thrived. In order to boost spending, before the shopping festival the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province issued 30 million yuan ($4 million) in online offshore duty-free vouchers.