Brands look to China's tropical duty free island paradise for consumer comeback

People walk past a Tesla booth at the third China International Consumer Products Expo, in Haikou, Hainan province, China April 12, 2023. - Reuters

HAIKOU, Hainan (Reuters): Representatives of over 3,000 brands including Burberry and Estee Lauder descended on China's Hainan this week to show off their latest wares, hoping to cash in on a post-Covid consumer rebound that has kicked off on the island known for its duty free shopping.

Around 300,000 people are expected to visit the China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan between April 10-15 in what is seen as a comeback for the holiday destination, after it was badly hurt last year by China's tough Covid-19 curbs, including a lengthy lockdown that stranded thousands of tourists there.