GERMANY. The operator of Heligoland’s largest duty free store has hailed the return of tourism to the islands today (17 May), as it welcomes visitors for the first time since last October’s COVID-19-enforced closure. Its 250sq m Salud Duty Free store has reopened after an extensive interior and exterior refurbishment.
“We are all thrilled to finally open our doors after a closure of more than six months,” Salud Holding CEO Maurice van Vliet told The Moodie Davitt Report. “It took a long period but finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Heligoland is a small German archipelago located in the North Sea and, due to the fact it is excluded from the EU VAT zone and Customs Union, it holds duty free status for goods including liquor and tobacco. As well as offering access to ships, the island is accessible by small aeroplanes.
With its large beaches and plethora of hotels and restaurants, Heligoland is a popular holiday destination for German and Nordic tourists.
Van Vliet revealed that the Salud Duty Free Heligoland store has been working to increase the breadth of its stock levels during the lockdown and has plans for several exclusive whisky and rum promotions in coming months.
Extensive refurbishment works have been completed on the outer signage of the store, the interior of the shop and its basement.
Travellers to Heligoland are now required to record negative tests at the place of boarding. However, COVID-19 vaccinations are not compulsory for travel.
With ferries currently able to accommodate only half the usual number of passengers due to mandatory social distancing requirements, extra vessels have been added to schedules. This takes total daily arrivals/departures to Heligoland to seven ferries each way.
“This means that there are more arrival and departure lines from different destinations going to Heligoland than there were before,” said van Vliet. “Our hopes are that this new opening [of the island] will be a permanent one. It’s still challenging to travel abroad for many German tourists so let’s hope that the island vacation will be on the rise for the coming period.”
Headquartered in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Salud Duty Free is a retailer and distributor of travel retail and duty free products in Europe, the US and Asia, focusing on spirits, wines, Champagnes, confectionery, perfumes, tobacco and fine foods.
