Thai tourism revolution: Duty-free ditch and booze bonanza

[webfact]

In a bold move set to redefine Thailand‘s tourism landscape, the Finance Ministry is gearing up to propose changes that could reshape the way tourists spend their cash.

 

The Finance Ministry is set to pitch a revolutionary plan to Cabinet today, December 19, aiming to suspend duty-free shops in the arrivals section of all airports. Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, shared the motivation behind the move.

Lavaron stated…

 

“When we suspend arrivals duty-free shops, it will enable Thai and foreign tourists to spend domestically instead of spending at duty-free shops.”

This strategic shift is designed to boost local businesses, as domestic shops stand to benefit from the redirected tourist spending.

 

But what about duty-free giant King Power? Fear not, as Lavaron assured that the behemoth is on board, ready to embrace the measure in a bid to supercharge tourism and the economy. It seems the kingdom is keen to overhaul the tourist experience to be truly immersive and beneficial to the local economy.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-19

 

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[mfd101]

And taxes on wine will be reduced by 90% any year now ...

[bamnutsak]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

“When we suspend arrivals duty-free shops, it will enable Thai and foreign tourists to spend domestically instead of spending at duty-free shops.”

 

This excuse, and the entire proposal, seems idiotic.

 

Given the duty-free limit, 1L, and the relatively limited uptake on arrival, this will lead to a barely measurable increase in domestic sales.

 

Who comes up with this stuff?

 

 

Full disclosure I always buy on arrival at King Power in the Baggage Claim area. Usually, a single malt, where you can get 1L at the same price you can get 700/750 in town, so a significant savings.

[ikke1959]

Most tourists buy their stuff somewhere else.. Duty free shops in Thailand are overpriced and with the restrictions of alcohol and cigarettes there will not be so much to earn for the Government, but what else could they think with their brains?

[KannikaP]

Would it be a good idea to scrap duty free booze sales at departure so that around 300 litres of inflammable liquids in the overhead lockers, and their weight, are not carried on the aeroplane. 

Each passenger is allowed only 1 litre of spirit anyway. Saving about a tenner.

[Photoguy21]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Most tourists buy their stuff somewhere else.. Duty free shops in Thailand are overpriced and with the restrictions of alcohol and cigarettes there will not be so much to earn for the Government, but what else could they think with their brains?

All Duty Free shops are overpriced. They may be duty free but they are certainly not increased profit free

[Clarkey611]

2 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Full disclosure I always buy on arrival at King Power in the Baggage Claim area. Usually, a single malt, where you can get 1L at the same price you can get 700/750 in town, so a significant savings.

I buy my Duty Free at London Hethrow, wherethere is a large saving in comparison to King Power (and all the other Asian nations).

[Snig27]

Of course no mention of removing the totally corrupt restrictions on local craft brewers who could be contributing significant money to the country if governments didn't block them to keep the duopoly happy.

[Bim Smith]

remember buying a camera at king power "duty free" some years ago. Found the exact same camera at Tesco lotus for half the price. Yep get rid of the rip off king power

[RandolphGB]

This makes no sense, whichever way you look at it. How these people get into positions of power is certainly not through ability and hard work. 

[hellohello123]

Closing down arrival duty free stores= people will spend the money inside the country they are already in!

 

Wow, who would have thought!

 

Einstein would be happy with that

[Nickcage49]

Yeah, be different from every other country. That will really encourage tourism. Big dummies!

[TheFishman1]

Where do they come up with these idiotic ideas? Every time I come back to Bangkok most of people on the plane bought duty-free liquor before they left to come to Thailand because they know Thailand prices are overpriced. It’s not gonna make a big difference if they wanna make a big difference, they need to get back to reality, TIT

[crazykopite]

When I fly I normally purchase my duty free either in the country of departure or if I have a stopeover I purchase there after a 20+ hour flight the last thing I would do is drag my luggage into the duty free to go buy a bottle of whiskey all I want to do is get my lift to wherever I’m staying 

[Stargeezr]

Duty free shops on arrival have never made any sense to me. Unless you are a near by traveller, after even 5 hours in a jet plane, 

all you want to do is get to your hotel, or home.  More likely the arrival shops were losing money anyway.

[Mywayboy]

Chop tax on Wine it's ridiculous the amount they charge.

[smew]

more confusion, as no one really buy duty free on arrival, at least I only see very very very few pepole buyin duty free on arrival  

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“When we suspend arrivals duty-free shops, it will enable Thai and foreign tourists to spend domestically instead of spending at duty-free shops.”

Silly boy.

Tourists will buy their duty free at departures where they start their journey.

I never buy at arrivals.

[newbee2022]

36 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

I buy my Duty Free at London Hethrow, wherethere is a large saving in comparison to King Power (and all the other Asian nations).

Wow, and on arrival the bottle is empty 😂😂😂

[alanrchase]

35 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

I buy my Duty Free at London Hethrow, wherethere is a large saving in comparison to King Power (and all the other Asian nations).

I bought a carton of duty free cigarettes in Heathrow duty free for an extortionate price only to find there was no smoking anywhere in the terminal. The cigarettes were half the price in Bahrain airport duty free.

[Joe Mama]

The most effective way to increase tourists & retirees spending habits while living in Thailand would be to reduce the outrageous taxes levied on the purchase of alcoholic beverages in Thailand!  The taxes are so damn high that they are more effective than attending AA meetings to get me to quit purchasing & drinking alcohol beverages while living here in Thailand!

[Lacessit]

I bring in one bottle of wine from Australia each time - a good one.The duty-free shops in Thailand are more expensive.

[blazes]

Any Leicester City fans on here will be glad to read that  King Power will not be negatively affected.

[scottiejohn]

As I am only interested in getting off the plain and out of the Terminal as quickly as possible I have never even noticed that there was such a thing at arrivals.

[bamnutsak]

25 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

the last thing I would do is drag my luggage into the duty free to go buy a bottle of whiskey

 

I casually make my purchase while waiting for my bags to pop out.

 

If one doesn't have checked luggage then your point might be valid.

 

 

Arriving passengers can make purchases in the main hall as well as the baggage claim area.

 

If "no one buys duty-free" then King Power might not be the successful company that it is?

 

If they ban duty-free on arrival then that means duty-free purchases prior to arriving (on the plane, duty free shop in previous airport) in Thailand too.

 

 

 

[CanadaSam]

Sheer lunacy!  Do you think the majority of tourists will be sitting in their hotel rooms drinking duty free booze, depriving the local bars of income?  Yes, that's the reason they come to Thailand!  Just a few more brain cells, and this country could move forward a bit!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

And taxes on wine will be reduced by 90% any year now ...

More like increased.

[Confuscious]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Most tourists buy their stuff somewhere else.. Duty free shops in Thailand are overpriced and with the restrictions of alcohol and cigarettes there will not be so much to earn for the Government, but what else could they think with their brains?

 

So, you assume that they have "brains"?
Wrong assumption .....

[Captor]

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

And taxes on wine will be reduced by 90% any year now ...

For 2 weeks..

[trainman34014]

They are their own worst enemies when it comes to Taxation on Booze.   Drop the ludicrously high Tax on Wines and Spirits for all Domestic Shoppers and start allowing a larger flow of decent Beers on the shelves at sensible prices and just watch the Tills ticking over.

 

Another Brain Cell would give them Plant Status !