Tourists shop at a duty-free store in Hainan. (Source: hinews.cn)

Hainan's island-departure duty-free sector experienced consistent growth in the first half of 2026. According to Haikou Customs, duty-free sales totaled CNY 19.92 billion from January to June, with 15.966 million items sold to 2.793 million customers. These figures show year-on-year increases of 18.8%, 7.3%, and 12.6%, respectively, indicating ongoing growth in Hainan's international tourism and consumer market.

In recent years, Hainan has steadily expanded its tourism products by integrating cultural tourism, sporting events, exhibitions, and duty-free shopping, giving visitors more choices. Thanks to an array of major exhibitions, international forums, sporting competitions, and holiday activities, the province has attracted more domestic and international tourists, further boosting duty-free sales.

Customs authorities have continued streamlining clearance procedures, boosting the efficiency of duty-free goods movement and fostering steady growth in the island-departure duty-free sector. Meanwhile, duty-free retailers have improved the shopping experience by developing integrated consumption scenarios that combine exhibitions, tourism, and shopping, addressing consumers' increasing demand for diverse, high-quality products and services.