Haikou Customs supervised 121,000 shopping trips and the sale of 1.345 million shopping items during the May holiday period.

Haikou Customs has reported sales of RMB993 million/US$153.9 million on Hainan island during the 1 May Golden Week holiday period (1-5 May).

Haikou Customs supervised 121,000 shopping trips and the sale of 1.345 million shopping items. This represented year-on-year increases of +141% and +229% respectively.

Promotional activities implemented by duty free retailers on Hainan island during the five-day holiday, along with the island’s enhanced tax free policy introduced last July helped boost sales.

INCREASED CUSTOMS SUPERVISION

The tripling of the duty free shopping allowance from RMB30,000 to RMB100,000, as well as the introduction of a new home-delivery service, also contributed.

Increased supervision during the Golden Week holiday ensured the smooth implementation of the tax free policy and that products were available for sale in a timely manner.

A Haikou Customs Spokesperson said: “With the help of scientific and technological supervision methods, the implementation of precise supervision has not only effectively improved the efficiency of Customs supervision, but also greatly reduced the operating costs of enterprises.

“During the entire holiday period, the circulation and supply of popular commodities in four Sanya duty free shops was efficient and orderly.”