HAIKOU, China, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Hainan International Media Center:
South China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially begin island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025, with more products to be eligible for import under the FTP's zero-tariff policy.
The new customs closure system establishes an area under the independent supervision of customs authorities covering the entire island of Hainan.
Wang Changlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a recent press conference held by the State Council Information Office that after independent customs operations begin, the proportion of "zero tariff" goods in the Hainan FTP will increase from 21% to 74%. Wang added that imported products undergoing at least 30% value-added processing in Hainan will be eligible to enter the mainland tariff-free.
Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min noted that after island-wide independent customs operations begin, the number of duty-free eligible product categories in Hainan will increase from about 1,900 to around 6,600. Those eligible to take advantage of the policy will also increase to include companies, public institutions, and private non-corporate entities in the FTP with import needs, added Liao.
In April 2018, China announced the decision to develop Hainan into a pilot free trade zone. In June 2020, a master plan was unveiled to establish an initial FTP policy and institutional framework by 2025 and develop the province into a high level, globally influential FTP by 2050.
Over the past five years, the actual utilization of foreign capital in Hainan reached 102.5 billion yuan ($14.35 billion), with an average annual growth rate of 14.6%. A total of 8,098 new foreign-funded enterprises were established at an average annual growth rate of 43.7%. There have been 176 countries and regions that have invested in the FTP, and citizens of 85 countries are currently eligible for visa-free entry into Hainan.
Policy preparations for island-wide independent customs operations are already in place, said Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee. The Ministries of Commerce and Finance, together with other departments, have issued a set of measures and lists to safeguard the ongoing implementation of the FTP's independent customs operations.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Duty-free product categories to increase thanks to Hainan FTP independent customs operations
Duty-free product categories to increase thanks to Hainan FTP independent customs operations
SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.
"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."
The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.
The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.
In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"
