Malaysian low-cost carrier Air Asia founder Tony Fernandes is the guitar-twanging hero of the new Asian budget traveller. He is irreverent, dynamic and snapping at the heels of the traditional airlines. Anna Fenton examines what the low-cost revolution means for duty free.

The Nuance Group Asia Pacific has emerged from its toughest year yet with a new portfolio of stores at Hong Kong International airport and impressive new developments at Singapore and Sydney. In a frank interview, regional ceo John Moore tells John Rimmer that the events of 2003 will have a lasting effect on the way the company does business.

As soon as one Asia/Pacific hub airport opens a new airside mall, another airport in the region builds a bigger one. This year Hong Kong International airport opened its new Skymart East Hall - and it will be a hard act to follow. Anna Fenton reports.

Travel retailers in Bali and the rest of Indonesia have had more than their fair share of troubles in recent years, but the return of Japanese travellers is bringing about a modest recovery, writes Joe Bates.

It's scarlet, sleek and glossy and it's the talk of the town in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Airlines' new inflight catalogue Temptations has catapulted its onboard retail business back into the black. Anna Fenton reports.

It's the study that every luxury brand thinking about doing business in Chinese domestic and travel-retail markets needs to read. Anna Fenton analyses a Morgan Stanley report on the luxury goods market in China and Hong Kong.

The latest retail development in Taiwan, the Taipei 101 Mall, opened its doors in November and is built around what will be the world's tallest building. Its owners have high hopes that the centre will become one of the world's most attractive shopping venues for luxury fashion. Eluned Jones reports.

The beauty category continues to keep the cash tills ringing, but challenges remain if growth is to last. Tina Milton talks to some of its largest suppliers.

As Asian travel-retail emerges from a traumatic year, an improvement in the mood of the watches and jewellery sector has become evident. Kevin Rozario finds out whether it is likely to last.

Nuance-Watson (Singapore) doubled the size of its fragrances and cosmetics store in Changi terminal two last October at a prime, flagship location. Initial results saw sales smash targets by 20%. Tina Milton talks to the operator's general manager Ken Tse.

As one of the leading magazines in the travel-retail industry, TRI receives many press releases about beauty products. Increasingly, they are concerned with anti-ageing creams or products designed to make skin appear younger and "more perfect". Although the companies that market these products have conducted extensive scientific tests on them to establish their efficacy, TRI decided to conduct its own, non-scientific test on a number of products to establish whether an average consumer feels that the creams and potions are as effective as suppliers claim.

Welcome to the April/May issue of TRI.

The second Global Travel Retail Summit, held on April 19-20 in Amsterdam, aimed to improve understanding of the travelling consumer. There were useful insights aplenty though much remains to be done if the industry is to turn more travellers into shoppers.

India chooses quick buck over sustainable growth; DFS starts year strongly as Asia rebounds

German silversmith Thomas Sabo is relishing the prospect of a successful year in travel-retail, following broad-based development in the market last year. Jonathan Brown reviews developments for the company.

Following the relaunch of its main brands over the past few years and a new fragrance launch on the horizon, Kenzo Parfums is optimistic about its revamped image in the Asia/Pacific market. Eluned Jones finds out more.

In the first of a series of regular contributions, marketing and travel-retail consultant Thierry Maillet analyses one of the themes of this issue of TRI - low-cost travel - and looks at the implications for retailers. Opposite, regular contributor Ivo Favotto offers his view.

The low-cost carrier phenomenon has arrived in Asia and it's there to stay. It's time for airports to rethink both their facilities and their retail strategies, says Ivo Favotto.

Former DFS Group director of merchandising, and now vice-president and director global duty-free at leading liquor supplier Brown-Forman, Patrick Moran argues that the volatility of the Asian market demands commitment from all the parties concerned.