LATIN AMERICA. Asociación Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres (ASUTIL) Secretary General José Luis Donagaray has said that his organisation is in discussions with three Latin American governments, including Brazil, to introduce a policy allowing people to purchase duty free goods up to 15 days after they travel.
Donagaray revealed the plan, which will involve home delivery of the purchased items if successful, during yesterday’s Duty Free World Council seminar 2021 – The Year of Recovery?.
Explaining the rationale for the bold move, he said: “Too many people when they arrive at the airport don’t want to be carrying bottles or other duty free goods when doing a transition to another city. Also, some are afraid to go into the duty free stores [because of COVID-19]. We are working with the Brazilian and two other governments in the region on this, to give people 15 days after arrival to purchase duty free and receive home delivery.”
Webinar moderator, TFWA Managing Director John Rimmer, asked Donagaray if he was confident that the response from governments (and Customs authorities) to the proposal would be positive.
He replied: “We are trying to adapt to the digital world we live in. Yes, we are optimistic, and we have already had a lot of advances. We are working very closely with the governments and we are trying to present a win-win situation for everyone on this issue.”
Donagaray also revealed that ASUTIL is pressing for duty free allowances for Brazilian border stores to be increased from the current limit of US$500, with the aim of pushing the allowance closer to the US$1,000 maximum which it secured for travellers at Brazilian airports last year. The allowance (for travellers entering Brazil via a land border) was raised from US$300 in 2019, as reported.
He also said ASUTIL was pressing for progress in the same regard with countries other than Brazil. Donagaray said: “We have some negotiations with other countries to increase allowances, but we don’t have any confirmations. We have a lot of cases and we are working on that issue.”
During his address, Donagaray also highlighted opportunities for Americas travel retail from the forthcoming virtual Summit of the Americas, being staged by ASUTIL and IAADFS in partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report. He said: “We have a lot of very good and noted speakers in all the areas of the travel retail business. I strongly recommend it.”
The Summit of the Americas – A Virtual Experience
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To learn more about this opportunity, please download the 2021 Virtual Summit Information Briefing. For virtual stand reservations or media, please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com.
You can access the event’s web site here.
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