Thailand is revamping its strategy to boost tourist spending by closing all duty-free shops located in the arrival areas of its international airports. This decision, announced by the Thai Cabinet earlier in July and reported by local media outlets The Nation and Bangkok Post, aims to encourage visitors to explore local shops and spread their spending throughout the country.
The new policy will affect eight major airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, Samui, and Krabi. While an official closure date hasn’t been announced, the move is expected to significantly alter the shopping experience for arriving international travelers in Thailand.
Previously, these arrival duty-free shops, operated by three companies, generated a combined revenue of approximately THB3 billion (R1.5 billion) in 2023. The Thai government has secured the agreement of these operators for the closure.
This strategic shift intends to transform Thai towns and cities into more prominent shopping destinations for international tourists, ultimately stimulating the local economy. The government projects that by eliminating arrival duty-free options, tourist spending in local stores will increase by an average of THB570 (R285) per person per trip.