【深圳特区报】封关会否影响“离岛免税”政策？本报特派记者实地走访海口免税店带来权威解读

Core Viewpoint - The "offshore duty-free" policy in Hainan will remain unchanged after the official closure of the island on December 18, 2023, and consumer interest continues to surge in duty-free shopping [2][10]. Group 1: Policy Impact - The new "offshore duty-free" policy has expanded the eligible consumer base to include departing travelers and increased the number of duty-free product categories to 47, including new categories like pet supplies and portable musical instruments [7]. - The implementation of the new policy has led to a significant increase in consumer traffic and sales at the CDF Haikou International Duty-Free City, with 86,700 visitors and sales amounting to 495 million yuan in November, representing year-on-year growth of 14.99% and 28.57% respectively [8]. Group 2: Economic Contribution - The duty-free shopping policy is a key driver for Hainan's economic growth, with projections indicating that over 54 million visitors will enter duty-free stores by 2024, creating more than 13,000 jobs [10]. - From 2018 to 2024, the average annual growth rate of duty-free sales in Hainan is expected to approach 30%, with the market share of Hainan's offshore duty-free market in the national market increasing from one-quarter to nearly 70% [10]. Group 3: Consumer Experience and Risk Management - CDF Haikou International Duty-Free City has enhanced customer service by providing policy interpretation materials and upgrading systems to streamline shopping processes for both residents and travelers [8][9]. - The company is actively collaborating with customs and regulatory bodies to improve risk management mechanisms in response to potential issues arising from the new policy, such as "purchase schemes" and "proxy buying" [9]. Group 4: Future Development - There are suggestions for Hainan to collaborate with Hong Kong to build the world's largest duty-free shopping market, which would involve attracting various market participants, including retailers and cross-border e-commerce entities [11][12].