Ctrip, an online travel service provider in China, recently signed a cooperation agreement with China Duty-Free Group to jointly launch a duty-free shopping-themed travel product.

Under the agreement, Ctrip's customers will be able to enjoy VIP treatment while shopping at CDF's duty-free malls in Sany, Hainan Province.

A senior officer from Ctrip noted that the partnership will boost the demand for shopping in the country's southernmost island, and most tourists will choose self-guided tour package.

CDF runs the only duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, offering goods such as perfume, jewelry, watch, clothes, and leather products.

On January 1, 2011 the island inaugurated its tax-rebate policy. The policy allows foreign travelers — and visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau — to apply for a tax rebate of 11% on their total purchases when departing from Hainan. Later, the duty-free policy was extended to domestic tourists.