"Take me to the Hilton" could well become the stock phrase among the burgeoning middle class in the Chinese mainland as the globally renowned brand is setting out on an eyepopping expansion spree.
The duty exemption program allows tourists and locals alike to enjoy duty exemptions on certain imported commodities worth no more than 5,000 yuan ($765) before flying to other destinations in China.
China's major cities experienced a rebound in property sales during the recent Labour Day holiday period, while prices relatively remained stable, according to industry statistics on Tuesday.
On April 20, Hainan in South China launched a duty free policy for travelers who leave the island for inland. The island also has an existing exit duty free policy, launched in April 2008, which benefits non-mainland residents who shop in Hainan's downtown duty free shops and leave China via Hainan, and an exit VAT refund policy, introduced on January 1st this year.
Political advisers in South China's Hainan province urged authorities to levy taxes on vacant homes in popular travel destinations to discourage speculation and cool the island's overheated property market.
Hainan opened a second duty-free store on Wednesday, following the success of the first, which since April has boosted domestic tourism to the province in South China.
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