Duty-free shops in Sanya have seen a surge in business following the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) last Thursday, with total sales reaching 535 million yuan (about 76.12 million U.S. dollars) as of Monday, marking a remarkable year-on-year increase of 50.3 percent.

Under the new arrangements, the tropical island of more than 30,000 square kilometers has been designated as a special customs supervision zone. This marks a new stage in the development of the Hainan FTP, which enables freer flows of goods, capital, personnel and data, supported by zero tariffs, low tax rates and a simplified tax system.

On the day the policy took effect, Sanya International Duty Free City, the world's largest single-duty-free retail space, welcomed over 36,000 visitors, a year-on-year rise of more than 60 percent, while sales jumped 85 percent compared to the same period last year.

Daily duty-free sales across Sanya have exceeded 100 million yuan for five consecutive days.

"There is a wide variety of goods, from clothing to cosmetics. We come every year and always buy some items to bring home before the Spring Festival," said a tourist from Hebei Province.

To further attract shoppers, Sanya has rolled out promotional initiatives, including the distribution of shopping vouchers.

"Sanya has issued 10 million yuan worth of consumption vouchers. Duty-free shops are currently holding their year-end promotion campaign, which will run until the Spring Festival," said Zheng Conghui, director of the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Commerce.