TURKEY/TUNISIA. ATÜ Duty Free has said that its newly renovated Arrivals outlets at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport will help it compensate for the recent decrease in inbound liquor and tobacco allowances in Turkey.
New regulations have just cut cigarette allowances from 600 to 400 sticks and cut alcohol allowances from three litres to two. The liquor allowance includes one litre of spirits above 22% abv (wine & Champagne excluded) plus one litre of spirits below 22% abv (wine & Champagne included).
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Turkish inbound duty free allowances on liquor & tobacco have been cut, but ATÜ Duty Free says its new-look Arrivals stores at Istanbul Atatürk (pictured) will help it compensate by driving penetration and spend |
ATÜ Duty Free is the joint-venture partnership between airports group TAV and Unifree – the company in which Gebr Heinemann is a major shareholder and supplier. A spokesman told The Moodie Report: “We might encounter some difficulties in the spirits category and in tobacco [because of the allowances]. We do not expect a major change. The [new] Arrivals concept is increasing our penetration rate. We believe this will compensate considerably for any lost sales.”
As reported, ATÜ Duty Free has invested heavily in its new-look Arrivals stores at Istanbul Atatürk, as it aims to match the impressive standard of its Departures operations. Arrivals accounts for around 40% of duty free sales at the location, mainly from Turks returning to the country.
ATÜ Duty Free said: “Our new Arrivals approach is very much appreciated by the customers in its early stages.We believe that this approach will attract many more customers and the outcome will be to our advantage.”
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ATÜ Duty Free was profiled in the September issue of The Moodie Report Digital Print Edition |
Meanwhile the retailer has saluted the start of operations at the new Enfidha Zine El Abidine Ben Ali International Airport in Tunisia, which is managed by ATÜ Duty Free co-parent TAV Airports Holding. Although the airport has welcomed its first flights (after opening on 7 December), the major flow of traffic will begin in February, the company noted.
ATÜ Duty Free’s spokesman said: “We have managed to put together a state-of-the-art, wonderful new-generation duty free shop, a walk-through concept of 1,800sq m on the Departures level.
“This shop contains all the classic duty free products, a local corner where we emphasise the local flavour – as we like to do at every airport – and an important [zone] dedicated to fashion and accessories. This shop will be a very pleasant experience for tourists that are leaving from Tunisia.”
MORE STORIES ON ATÜ DUTY FREE AND TAV
TAV begins operations at Enfidha International Airport – 07/12/09
ATÜ Duty Free broadens Arrivals shopping offer at Istanbul Atatürk; Umdasch provides key design touches – 17/11/09
TAV Airports Holding and Al-Rajhi Holding Group strike joint venture to seek Saudi Arabian airport contracts – 10/11/09
BAT and ATÜ Duty Free unveil striking new Kent shop-in-shop at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport – 27/08/09