Vitality｜Haikou, a city with eyes

Since the adjustment of Hainan's duty-free policy on July 1, 2020, up to the end of June 2022, Haikou Customs supervised a total of RMB 90.6 billion in sales of duty-free goods on the islands, 125 million pieces of sales and 12.28 million shopping passengers. The average daily shopping amount was 124 million yuan, an increase of 257% compared with that before the implementation of the new policy. The top three categories in terms of sales amount were cosmetics, watches and jewellery.

Over the past two years, against the backdrop of the global consumer market downturn, the duty-free market on the outlying islands has continued to flourish, playing an obvious role in the return of consumption and driving the sustained growth of the duty-free consumer market in Haikou and nationwide.

Located on the east side of the new seaport on the west coast of Haikou City, the Haikou International Duty Free City project covers a planning area of 675 mu and has a total construction area of approximately 926,000 square meters, which is a world-class resort-type commercial district integrating duty free, office, flat, leisure and cultural tourism. Up to now, the construction of the shaped roof of the duty-free commercial centre of the Haikou International Duty Free City project has been completed and the mechanical and electrical equipment has entered the commissioning stage, which is expected to be put into use this year.

Building a platform to carry business vitality

In order to showcase the development potential of Hainan's free trade port, Haikou has hastened to launch the planning layout and industrial investment direction of the Global Consumer Excellence Expo.

Haikou City is actively planning the construction of a global consumer goods expo project to build an important display and trading platform for global consumer goods and create a unique global "never-ending consumer fair".

Located in the Jiangdong New Area of Haikou, adjacent to the second phase of Haikou Meilan International Airport, the project covers an area of approximately 3,150 mu and includes a top fashion boutique city, the world's largest general aviation, yacht and smart car exhibition and sales centre, and a global boutique exhibition centre. The project is also equipped with hotel, catering, cultural and creative, conference centre, commercial office and other facilities, and is seamlessly connected to Meilan International Airport and Haiwen Expressway, creating a one-stop ultimate tourism consumption destination of "food, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment".

The Global Consumer Expo combines trade exhibitions with tourism and consumption, and features new industries such as boutique exhibitions, brand promotion, travel retailing and order trading, providing the only "in-country, out-of-country" exhibition and trade platform for global consumer products in China.

Feng Fei, governor of Hainan Province, pointed out that the project focuses on the "first shop, first brand, first show, first release" economy, fully mobilises domestic and international resources, explores the "exhibition + tourism + industry" operation mechanism, and forms a differentiated operation pattern.

The opening of the Mixc in Haikou has helped the development of Hainan Province's "first shop economy" and enhanced the city's commercial influence. Photo by Xu Ersheng

In addition, the construction of the commercial centre of the Haikou International Duty Free City project has entered the stage of full-scale multi-disciplinary assault. Located on the west coast of Haikou, adjacent to the new harbour, Haikou International Duty Free City covers an area of 675 mu and has a total construction area of approximately 926,000 square metres. After the completion of the project, the duty-free shopping map of Hainan will add another "new landmark", echoing with Sanya International Duty Free City, and helping Hainan to build an international tourism consumption centre.

The project consists of six plots of land, containing a large international tax-free complex of tax-free commercial, taxable commercial, office, hotel and talent flats.

Up to now, the construction of the shaped roof of the duty-free commercial centre of the Haikou International Duty Free City project has been completed and the mechanical and electrical equipment has entered the commissioning stage, which is expected to be put into use this year.

The project "Senfree Wanguo Shopping", built by Hainan Senda Investment Group at a cost of 300 million, will introduce new industries such as cross-border e-commerce wholesale and retail, netflix brokerage, etc. It will be equipped with bonded warehouses in Haikou Comprehensive Security Zone and Yangpu Port, with a planned construction area of 100,000 square meters, creating a new consumption experience for e-commerce platforms, creators, netflix live streaming and consumers.

The Guomao business district is currently one of the busiest business districts in Haikou. Located in the core area of the Guomao CBD, Haikou Mixc recently opened, which is the first high-end shopping centre built by China Resources Land in Hainan, and is the first shopping centre to open in Haikou in 2022.

The project has a commercial area of 113,500 square metres, with a total of six commercial floors, containing shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment, and introducing 60% of the first brands.

Business-end commercial brands are stationed in the Haikou commercial complex. Photo by Xu Ersheng

According to the survey, Haikou has more than 30 shopping malls of different scales, forming nearly 10 business districts such as Guomao, Haixiu, Jiefang West, West Coast, Guoxing, Haidian Island and Coconut Sea - Nanhai.

Commercial complexes continue to emerge in Haikou, with the opening of Riyue Plaza, Wanda Plaza, Yuanda Shopping Centre, New Town Joy Plaza, Haidian City, Friendship-Sunshine City, Wangfujing Enxiang Shopping Centre and Bafang Department Store Shopping Centre, carrying commercial vitality.

In the post-epidemic era, consumption has become a new engine to drive economic development. Photo by Xu Ersheng

As a key project in Hainan Province, the most important commercial component of Longfor Guangnian, Longfor Haikou Kunfu Tianjie, has recently announced the progress of investment promotion, including the new trendy play method of "KTV + hotpot", music KTV, indoor children's play pioneer meland, the pioneer of Generation Z trendy play Star Legend, etc. The mall is confirmed to be occupied.

This means that the magical scenario of eating hot pot while singing karaoke will soon become a reality. At that time, Haikou will set off a new round of consumption boom.

Written by Xu Ersheng

Produced by China.com Hainan