A duty-free shop is a retail establishment whose merchandise is exempt from paying specific regional or national taxes and duties, provided that the goods are purchased by tourists who will transport them outside of the country and pay taxes and customs there. The majority of these sales take place at airports around the world, but there are other places where duty-free and travel retail is also available, including border shops, cruise, and ferry ships in international waters, airplanes during international flights, railway stations, and some countries, downtown shops where purchase documentation is required. Airports would not be able to offer the amenities and services they do without money from duty-free and travel retail. Without these outlets, there would be a lot more airports that would be operating at a loss. This market contributes significantly to the economies of travel, tourism, and aviation.

The development of the duty-free retail business is aided by the expansion of global tourism and the establishment of new transport routes.

The growth and construction of new international airports in several nations worldwide have aided in the development of prosperous business opportunities in this sector. For instance, according to reports from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), two new expansion plans for the Surat international airport were started in 2019 and were expected to be concluded by 2021. According to the same report, the project's anticipated cost was roughly US$16.7 million. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded US$371 million for airfield, safety, and other enhancement projects at 169 airports in 40 states across the US, according to government reports in July 2022. This was part of the 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides funding for a number of projects including the development of new and improved airport facilities, the repair of runways and taxiways, the upkeep of airfield components like lighting or signage, and the acquisition of equipment required to run and maintain airports. The revenue produced by big duty-free retail store chains has expanded over the past few years as a result of the expansion of airports. According to their annual reports, Dufry, a duty-free retailer with headquarters in Switzerland, witnessed a sales growth of about 52% from 2020 to 2021, bringing in a total of almost US$4.1 billion in 2021.

The demand for goods is inconsistent due to currency volatility, which hinders the expansion of this sector.

Duty-free shops take international exchange rates into consideration. Although they operate across various nations and frequently transact in a variety of currencies with distinct exchange rates, they are susceptible to shifts in the global market. These currencies are adapted using the current day's exchange rate. These establishments, especially retail chains that offer luxury products, may be positively or badly impacted by currency exchange changes in the worldwide market depending on the exchange rate. This inconsistency and unpredictability affect the demand for goods from these stores, thereby impacting the growth of these stores.

Key Developments

• Delhi Duty-Free was the first travel retailer in the area to offer mobile shopping carts to customers at the airport in May 2022. In collaboration with the Maini Group, the Mobile Cart was developed with the goal of boosting sales and enhancing customer comfort. Alcohol, Perfume & Cosmetics, Snack food, and Tobacco are all available in addition to the other essential categories in this cart. If a customer does not have time to visit a duty-free shop, the Mobile Cart, which is fashioned to resemble a plane, enables them to find the items they need at the gate.
• The launch of GHARAGE's "Nullpunkt Functional Scents" brand in September 2022 made it one of the first suppliers of functional fragrances in the premium area. GHARAGE is the vision hub of Gebr. Heinemann is a key player in the duty-free retail market. In order to create a complex smell, Nullpunkt combines skill and ambition with a practical understanding of aromatherapy. GHARAGE nurtured the start-up from inception to concept in Hamburg and worked with French perfumer Marie Urban Le Fevre to create the scents in her lab in Berlin.

In the upcoming years, it is anticipated that the Asia Pacific duty-free retail market would experience significant expansion.

Recent events in several Asian nations may present opportunities for current and future duty-free shops to introduce a wide range of cutting-edge goods. For instance, according to official reports, the Hainan Free Trade Part (Hainan FTP) was to be established on the nation's southern coast when China's central government unveiled a number of initiatives in June 2020. The government also disclosed its goal of elevating Hainan FTP to the status of a world-class free trade zone by 2050.

In the near future, growth is anticipated in Europe. A major factor supporting the expansion of the area market is raising tourist spending on luxury products. Airports in several European nations have been designed to draw tourists and travelers to duty-free retail outlets as a result of the relaxation of COVID-19 regulations. Further, an inflow of tourists and absurdly high US travel spending are the main drivers of the US-dominated North American Duty-Free Retail sector. This market in North America is also being helped by the duty-free shops in Canada.

Key Market Segments

• By Distribution Channel
  • Airports & on-board aircraft
  • Seaports
  • Railway stations
  • Others
• By Product Type
  • Cosmetics and Personal care
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Food and beverages
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Others
  • The Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • India
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • Indonesia
    • Singapore
    • Others