A customer browses cosmetics in the newly opened urban duty-free store in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. [Photo/xmnn.cn]
Xiamen in East China's Fujian province recently opened its first urban duty-free store, catering mainly to overseas tourists.
The newly opened store is one of five urban duty-free stores in China to be approved by the General Administration of Customs. Duty-free goods such as perfume, cosmetics, sunglasses, watches, and luggage are available.
The store caters to overseas tourists and requires customers to present valid certificates before making purchases, such as passports, or mainland travel permits for Taiwan residents (MTPs), as well as departure flight information, said manager Chen Xiaodong.
According to the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, outbound customers leaving China will be able to enjoy duty-free goods in the store in the near future
Unlike airport duty-free stores, urban stores have pickup locations within port isolation areas. Customers must purchase the goods within 24 hours of their flight, and all good must be carried out of China.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
