Reopening Breeze Blowing Through the Duty-Free Industry

A Thai tourist visiting Shinsegae Duty Free.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] As COVID-19 enters the endemic phase (periodic outbreak of infectious diseases) and air routes reopen, a favorable breeze has begun to blow through the duty-free industry.

According to Shinsegae Duty Free on the 18th, a group bus carrying about 130 customers from the Ministry of Education visited Shinsegae Duty Free on the 16th. The arrivals, consisting of senior officials from the Thai Ministry of Higher Education and presidents of major universities in Thailand, are attending official schedules related to education and cultural content, including the Korea-Thailand Education and Culture Exchange Forum.

In response, Shinsegae Duty Free has launched an offensive targeting the Southeast Asian market. On the 17th, a live broadcast introducing K-fashion brands was conducted through the Facebook channels of two Singaporean power influencers. A total of 11 popular domestic fashion brands such as ‘Acme de la vie’, ‘Evisu’, ‘Liful’, and ‘Nerdy’, along with ‘Laneige’, representing K-beauty, were showcased together.

Shilla Duty Free also saw visits from delegations of Southeast Asian travel agencies. On the 16th, a delegation of Malaysian travel agency representatives visited Shilla Duty Free Jeju, located in Yeondong, Jeju City, exclusively. They are not ordinary tourists but representatives of Malaysian travel agencies who develop Korean tourism products and send local tourists to Korea.

They entered through Jeju International Airport on the 15th of this month and plan to travel for 4 nights and 5 days to major local tourist spots such as Seongsan Ilchulbong, Handam Beach, Gotjawal, and recreational forests, departing on the 19th.

A Shilla Duty Free official said, “Earlier this month, delegations from travel agencies in Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam also visited Shilla Duty Free Seoul, located in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, one after another,” adding, “Expectations are rising that the Korean tourism market will become more vibrant.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.