JAPAN. Japan Airport Terminal Co., the operator of Haneda Airport’s passenger terminal, has introduced a WeChat Mini-Program duty-free shopping platform to cater to Chinese tourists travelling via the airport.
Named Haneda Airport Duty-Free Reservation Station, the service is embedded in the WeChat ecosystem, allowing departing Chinese passengers to reserve and pay for products online and collect their purchases from TIAT Duty Free outlets in Haneda Airport Terminals 2 and 3.
The airport company has also developed the Haneda Tax-Free Locker where customers can claim pre-ordered products using the app. The electronic locker was developed in partnership with Fuji Corporation, Netstars Corporation and J&J Tax Free Corporation.
Tourists travelling through Haneda Airport can book their duty-free purchases 24 hours before departure.
The service provides shoppers with -5% discount on their duty-free purchases.
In a statement, the airport company said: “By introducing this service, Haneda Airport will be able to meet the diverse needs of inbound passengers, whose numbers are expected to increase in the future, while providing convenience and comfort to travellers.
“It also aims to propose a new style of enjoying ‘empty-handed tourism’, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and to further enrich the tourist experience in Japan.” ✈
