Duty-free sales at airports to resume
HA NOI (VNS) — Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has instructed the Ministry of Finance to review the implementation of the country's regulations on sales of duty free goods.
The move was made following a proposal from the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to resume sales of duty free goods at international airports, which have ceased since 2009 when the regulations on sales of duty free goods came into effect.
Under the proposal, MoT says the resumption of the service in Viet Nam's international airports will not only create more sources of foreign currency revenue and generate more jobs for local people, but also help to increase the competitiveness of the country's international airports.
International airports in the region are competing against each others fiercely to attract customers. Most regional airports such as South Korea's Incheon, Singapore's Changi, Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur, Thailand's Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Japan's Kansai have large-sized shopping centres with significant areas for duty free shops to capitalise on foreign currency and increase convenience for customers.
MoT estimates that the resumption of the service will help increase Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai airports' revenue by roughly US$16 million per annum and by roughly $20 million when two other international airports in Phu Quoc and Da Nang are put into operation. — VNS