Duty-free shopping was a hit in Hainan during the Double 11 shopping spree from Nov 9 to 11 in China, with the total sales of duty-free goods in the island reaching 184 million yuan ($26.2 million), up by 106 percent year-on-year.
More than 44,600 people took part in the shopping festival, visiting Hainan duty-free shops during the three days and buying more than 240,000 articles, an increase of nearly 80 percent and 105 percent respectively on a year-on-year basis.
According to reports by China Daily, Alibaba, which initiated the Double 11 shopping festival in 2009, achieved sales of 268.4 billion yuan this year, climbing by 26 percent compared to last year.
This special shopping festival is also a sensational event for Hainan's four duty-free malls, all of which launched an assortment of promotions and discounts.
In order to cope with the explosive sales growth of duty-free goods on the island during the "Double Eleven" period, the local customs implemented 24-hour reservation clearance services and other convenient services, as well as handled regulatory procedures like shipping out duty-free goods from the warehouses and shelves in a more efficient manner. It increased logistics efficiency, ensured sufficient supply of duty-free goods during the peak sales period, as well as enhanced online and offline inspection of duty-free goods to reduce shopping risks.
According to customs authorities, as of Nov 11, the total sales of duty-free items in Hainan stood at 10.9 billion yuan. This figure is expected to reach 13 billion yuan by the end of the year.
People walk past a duty-free shop in Hainan. [Photo by Luo Yunfei/chinanews.com]
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