HAIKOU - Offshore duty-free shops on China's island province of Hainan sold 5.25 billion yuan ($772 million) of goods in the first half of this year, up 24 percent from the same period of last year, local customs said.

Official data showed that the two duty-free shops, one in the provincial capital of Haikou and the other in the resort city of Sanya, received 1.47 million customers and sold over 7 million items in the first half of 2018.

The State Council gave Hainan permission to run a trial offshore duty-free program on April 20, 2011, to help develop the island into a world-class tourist destination by 2020.

Without any restrictions on the number of purchases, non-Hainan residents are allowed to buy duty-free products worth up to 16,000 yuan each year before they leave the island by flight or train.

Travelers can also order online and pick up their purchases at the airport or railway station.

The province announced in April that it plans to establish another offshore duty-free shop in Boao, a town in the city of Qionghai.