HAIKOU, April 17 -- South China's island province of Hainan reported a total of 16.9 billion yuan (about 2.46 billion U.S. dollars) in offshore duty-free sales in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, a year-on-year increase of 14.6 percent, according to Haikou Customs.

During the period, the number of shoppers for duty-free products in Hainan totaled 2.24 million, up 27.2 percent year on year, with more than 19.6 million duty-free products sold.

China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential and high-level free-trade port by the middle of the century. Over recent years, the island province has grown into an attractive shopping destination for domestic consumers.

In October 2022, Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, the world's largest stand-alone duty-free shopping mall, opened in Haikou, the capital of Hainan. In April, the renowned department store Wangfujing Group Co., Ltd. launched the island province's 12th offshore duty-free shop in Wanning City.