HAIKOU — Offshore duty-free shops on the island province of Hainan sold more than 25.6 billion yuan ($3.7 billion) of goods over the past six years, official data showed.

According to Haikou customs, the two duty-free shops, one in the provincial capital of Haikou and one in the resort city of Sanya, received more than 8 million customers and sold over 32 million items since offshore duty-free sales began in 2011.

The State Council gave Hainan the permission to run a trial duty-free program in April 2011 to help make the island a world-class tourist destination by 2020.

Without any restrictions on the number of purchases, non-locals are allowed to buy duty-free products worth up to 16,000 yuan a year before they take flights or trains to leave the island.

Travelers can also order on the internet and pick up goods at the airport or railway station.