LVMH Group’s travel retail arm DFS has unveiled its latest luxury retail and entertainment development in Hainan dubbed DFS Yalong Bay in Sanya. 

Scheduled to open by 2026, the project will be home to more than 1000 luxury brands once fully operational, including LVMH Group’s flagship maisons. DFS expects to inject an unprecedented investment into the 128,000 sqm site, creating sizeable economic opportunities within Yalong Bay.

President of DFS China, Nancy Liu, said DFS Yalong Bay represents a core component of the group’s long-term expansion and investment strategy in China. The luxury development is expected to lure more than 16 million visitors annually by 2030, becoming the prime destination for luxury shopping in the region. 

“Yalong Bay represents a key entry point to Hainan which the Chinese government plans to turn into the world’s largest free-trade port,” said Benjamin Vuchot, chairman and CEO at DFS. “…Hainan is well-poised to become one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world maximising both domestic and international consumption.”

Vuchot said the company expected tourism to grow significantly as investments in passenger airport capacity, high-speed roads and port capacity will also boost tourism potential in Hainan. 

Further reading: World’s largest duty-free store to launch this week.