Duty-free shop planned for cruise passengers

Hongkou District plans to open a duty-free shop at the international tourism harbor for cruise liners in the North Bund area, officials said Wednesday.

The Global Duty Free Store, to feature the world's major luxury brands, will mainly serve tourists from abroad, said Xie Rongrong, a political adviser with the district.

Currently, foreign tourists can only shop at duty-free stores at the departure terminal buildings at local cruise liner harbors.

With the new stores, they will be able to shop right after they disembark from the ships.

There are plans to open another duty-free store at the Wusong cruise liner harbor in Baoshan District, the Shanghai Tourism Bureau announced.

Shanghai also plans to open a downtown duty-free shop to attract consumers who are enthusiastic about purchasing luxury brands overseas to spend more onshore.

Zhou Ya, vice director at the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, has said the agency had submitted proposals for the shop to central government for final approval.

The North Bund area, seeking to transform itself into "China's Boston," is building a national-level shipping service base and cruise liner development zone to attract large cruise liners to dock.

The area will provide support commercial facilities totalling some 300,000 square meters, including restaurants, cafes and shops, officials say.