Duty-free shopping in Hainan has surged to record levels following the implementation of special customs operations across the island, highlighting the province’s growing appeal as an international tourism and consumption hub.
According to Chinese media, at the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex, tourists from around the world queued to purchase high-end goods, including the latest iPhone 17. Anton, a tourist from Belarus, said, “This phone is much cheaper here than in Belarus. It’s freezing there now, unlike the warm winter in Hainan, so we came for a holiday.”
Hainan’s Free Trade Port (FTP) officially launched island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025, boosting duty-free consumption and drawing international shoppers. Further adjustments to Hainan’s duty-free policy on November 1, 2025, expanded the categories of duty-free goods from 45 to 47 and extended benefits to outbound travelers, attracting more foreign customers.
Tourists praised the wide selection of international brands. A Russian visitor noted, “This shopping center is amazing. There are many things I want to buy, and the price is cheap.” Local residents have also benefited, as the policy now allows them to purchase up to 15 “pick-up” items per year, making duty-free shopping as convenient as a regular mall visit, according to Pan Meishi, a resident of Haikou.
Customs data from December 18, 2025, to January 17, 2026, showed duty-free sales reached 4.86 billion yuan (approximately 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year-on-year, while the number of shoppers increased 30.2 percent to 745,000. The Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex has reported steady growth in both average daily sales and visitor numbers since the new policies took effect.
Liu Kun, deputy general manager of China Tourism Group, described duty-free shopping as “a core pillar in building Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center,” emphasizing its role in attracting global consumers and upgrading spending levels.
Hainan’s tourism growth reflects these trends. In 2025, the province welcomed 106 million tourist visits, up 9.1 percent from the previous year, with total tourist spending reaching 225.4 billion yuan, up 10.5 percent. Inbound overnight tourists surged 35.2 percent to over 1.5 million. China aims to position Hainan as a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035.
