Offshore duty-free sales in Hainan hit $248 million during Chinese New Year

Customers pick cosmetics in a duty-free shop in south China's Hainan, Jan. 22, 2023. (Photo/China News Service)

(ECNS) -- Sales of 12 offshore duty-free shops in south China's Hainan hit 1.685 billion yuan (about $248 million) from Jan. 21 through 25, growing by 325 percent from that of 2019, said Hainan Commerce Department on Thursday. 

Total sales at six offshore duty-free shops in Haikou amounted to 470 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 140 percent and an increase of 6.41 times over 2019. Total sales of four offshore duty-free shops in Sanya hit 1.158 billion yuan, down four percent year-on-year and up 253 percent over 2019

During this year’s Spring Festival, offshore duty-free shops in Hainan held a series of promotional events to attract consumers.

Affected by the epidemic, duty-free sales in Hainan in 2022 fell short of expectations, but are recovering rapidly as winter weather pushes tourists to the warm island province.

Haikou Customs said that from Jan. 1 to 21 this year, it has seen 3.26 billion yuan in offshore duty-free shopping.