BERMUDA.The first ever arrivals duty free Shop in Bermuda opened this week at L.F. Wade International Airport.
A Department of Communication and Information release said that passengers can now enjoy the benefits of the duty free shopping experience immediately upon their arrival on the island.
Located between the immigration arrivals hall and the baggage reclaim area, the new store is operated by Bermuda Duty Free Ltd. It offers a wide selection of duty free wines, spirits and tobacco products.
Bermuda Duty Free Managing Director Charles Gosling [click here for his subsequent interview with The Moodie Report] said in the release that the store plans to develop its Arrivals offering further by introducing a pre-order service. This will allow travellers to select products either upon departure at the airport for collection on arrival or or by ordering beforehand. Pre-ordered duty free items will be packaged and ready for pick up by customers upon their arrival in Bermuda.
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How local media Bernews reported the opening of Bermuda’s first duty free Arrivals shop |
The new Arrivals Duty Free Shop signifies the successful outcome of the combined efforts of the Customs Department, the Department of Airport Operations, the Attorney General’s Chambers and Bermuda Duty Free over the past year to extend duty free shopping to returning Bermuda residents and visitors.
The Department of Communication and Information said that with the opening of the new Arrivals shop, Bermuda joins more than 50 countries around the world operating Arrivals duty free shops [it included the UK, which is incorrect as the UK’s airport Arrivals shops are duty paid -Ed].
Each arriving passenger is entitled to import duty free 1 litre of wine, 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, ½ kg of tobacco.
A Government spokesperson said: “The experiences of other countries that allow arrivals duty free sales have been universally positive, and Bermuda may expect to reap similar benefits. Furthermore, experience internationally would seem to suggest that Arrivals Duty Free has no appreciable impact on other local retail sales. Rather, it has been found that duty free revenues have come mainly at the expense of duty free shops in foreign airports.
“The repatriation of duty free sales currently being transacted in airports abroad, such as JFK or Gatwick, will allow Government to collect revenue that is currently being spent overseas. The introduction of Arrivals duty free sales has also served to enhance the non-aeronautical revenues of the Department of Airport Operations through the leasing of the necessary commercial space for the Arrivals store.
“The operation of the arrivals store will also result in new airport jobs at a time when the Government seeks to stimulate the Bermuda economy, including the important retail sector.”
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