May Day holiday sees nearly $130 million tax-free shopping in Hainan

(ECNS) -- During the five-day May Day holiday, Haikou Customs recorded a total of 883 million yuan ($127.75 million) in duty-free shopping and 109,000 shopping trips in South China’s Hainan province, representing a year-on-year increase of 120 percent and 158 percent, respectively, according to statistics released on Thursday.

To fully ensure a good shopping experience for customers, Sanya International Duty-Free shopping Complex of China Duty-Free Group has optimized the shopping and checkout channels and launched a series of exclusive holiday promotions, said Ye Rong, sales director of the store.

Since April 1, when purchasing duty-free goods in 15 categories, tourists from outside Hainan can choose the "buy and pick-up" method for duty-free goods with a unit price of less than 20,000 yuan($2,894). After paying for the goods, they can pick up the goods on site, and Customs will not inspect the physical goods upon departure.

Tourists who purchase duty-free products with a unit price at and above 50,000 yuan before each departure from the island can choose the "guaranteed pick up" method, which means that in addition to paying, customers can pick them up on site after submitting a guarantee equivalent to the import tax on imported goods to Customs.