Thai Duty-free business to open up to new players

BANGKOK, 20th February 2019.

State-owned Airports of Thailand (AOT), released new guidelines for concessions for duty-free and commercial activities at its 6 airports, which undermines the long-established primacy of King Power in the Thai Duty-Free business as its license is set to expire in 2020.

According to Reuters, AOT is launching an auction to open up retail space license to other companies:

• Retail giants Central Group (Thailand)

• The Mall Group (Thailand)

• Shilla (South Korea)

AOT and the duty-free business is a major beneficiary of booming tourism in Thailand, which saw over 38 million passenger arrivals in 2018.

---

Sources:

• https://www.reuters.com/article/airports-th-dutyfree/thailand-approves-guidelines-for-opening-airport-retail-space-to-competition-idUSL3N20F26D

• https://www.retailnews.asia/king-power-duty-free-monopoly-ending-soon/