China Duty Free forecasts WTO benefits

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China Duty Free Group president Gai Zhixin said this week that China's entry to the World Trade Organization would speed the development of duty-free in the country.

Speaking at a conference in Beijing on Wednesday, he said the surge in tourism would provide opportunities for the duty-free business.

He pledged improvements in retail standards, strengthened cooperation with suppliers and said a crackdown on smuggling would help protect duty-free.

According to the China National Tourism Administration, there were over 42m foreign arrivals in the first half of 2001, and $8.4bn in tourism revenue.