Hainan province has gained approval to operate duty free stores, and will set up an independent provincial duty free company to run a new duty free store in Haikou Meilan International Airport.

This is the next step forward for duty free shopping on the island since the offshore duty free policy came into effect.

Hainan province is planning to set up Hainan Duty Free Group as a corporate entity, and the first store will be named Island Duty Free.

This store will be jointly operated by Hainan Province State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and HNA Hainan International Tourism Island. German Gebr Heinemann KG's subsidiary Heinemann Asia Pacific in Singapore will be the only supplier for these duty free stores. Gebr Heinemann KG operates duty free business in 47 international airports worldwide.

Statistics released by Meilan Airport show that in 2010 the airport's passenger volume has reached 8.77 million, an increase of 4.54%. The duty free store in Haikou will have a bright future, and might also attract some guests from China Duty Free Group's store in Sanya.