Thailand to shut duty-free shops at airports, wants visitors to spend more inland

Thailand will end duty-free shopping for travellers arriving at international airports, in a bid to lift spending by tourists inside the country proper.

The Cabinet decision affects eight airports, including Suvarnabhumi Airport serving Bangkok and Phuket International in the south. No timetable for the closures has been set. Three operators run duty-free stores at arrival zones inside these airports. 

Those companies logged roughly 3 billion baht ($ 81.9 million) in combined sales last year. The companies agreed to the closure, the Thai Government said.

Inbound travellers losing access to duty-free sales inside airports will spend an average of 570 baht more elsewhere in the country during their trip, the Government estimates.

The decision to close the airport stores is intended to turn Thailand into a shopping hub for international tourists and stimulate the economy, said a person close to the Government.



Tourism is a key driver of Thailand’s economy, accounting for nearly 20% of gross domestic product. During the first four months of this year, the number of foreign arrivals recovered to nearly 90% of the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June, the number of countries and regions qualifying for visa-free stays expanded to 93 from 57. 

(Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Thailand-to-shut-duty-free-shops-at-airport-arrival-zones)