China Duty Free Group (CDFG) has reinforced its commitment to Hainan as a global travel retail hub during the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo, which kicked off today and runs until 18 April.
Participating in the event for the sixth consecutive year, CDFG is leveraging the platform to showcase its latest retail concepts, brand partnerships and category developments, while underlining the strategic importance of the Hainan Free Trade Port following the implementation of island-wide customs closure policies.
At the opening ceremony, attended by around 1,000 representatives from government, brands and industry, China Tourism Group Director and General Manager Fan Yunjun highlighted the significance of the Expo as the first major national-level exhibition since the customs closure milestone.
Fan Yunjun said the group is using Hainan as a core platform to deepen the integration of duty free retail with culture and tourism, attracting leading international brands and high-profile IP partnerships to the island. He added that the company aims to support the continued development of Hainan as an international tourism and consumption centre, while enhancing its “Shop in China” proposition for global consumers.
As part of its presence at the Expo, CDFG unveiled a large-scale exhibition space at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, featuring a wide selection of global brands across key categories including luxury goods, watches and jewellery, beauty, electronics and wines and spirits.
The stand, designed as an immersive retail environment, combined product display with experiential elements to reflect evolving consumer expectations in travel retail.
CDFG is also supporting a high-level industry forum during the event, bringing together government stakeholders, duty free operators and global brands to discuss growth opportunities and innovation in China’s duty free market following the policy changes.
Alongside its exhibition presence, the retailer activated a series of promotional and experiential initiatives across its Hainan store network, including exclusive offers for Expo participants and the launch of its annual watch festival across multiple locations such as CDF Sanya International Duty Free City and CDF Haikou International Duty Free City.
The event features more than 70 international watch and jewellery brands, alongside limited editions and new product launches, aimed at driving high-end consumption and reinforcing Hainan’s position as a premium shopping destination.
Looking ahead, CDFG said it will continue to leverage the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port, expand its brand portfolio and enhance experiential retail, with a focus on integrating duty free retail more closely with tourism and lifestyle offerings.
The group added that it aims to support the next phase of growth in China’s travel retail sector by improving product range, service quality and consumer engagement, as demand for premium and experience-led retail continues to rise.
Source: This news is part of DFNI and Duty Free Expert (DFE)’s exclusive content-sharing partnership.
