Espace Voyageur set for final push

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The Espace Voyageur concept, devised by French travel-retail organisation Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) in the wake of intra-EU duty-free abolition in 1999, could finally be debated by the French parliament this year

AFCOV president Alain Falque said that the association had had top-level discussions with the ministry of finance last week, and he claimed to be ?more optimistic than ever? of a positive outcome.

?We're now entering legal discussions with the government with a view to including Espace Voyageur in legislation to be debated in the French parliament this spring,? Falque told DFNI. ?The reasons behind our arguments have been understood at the highest level, which is a big step forward. There are still defenders of the domestic market who argue that travel retailers should not receive what they regard as ?special treatment', but competition authorities in France have accepted our reasoning.?

If the legislation is passed, Espace Voyageur will grant travel retailers a legal status different from their domestic counterparts. This will allow them to negotiate special terms with suppliers without fear of redress from the high street.

For an interview with Alan Falque, click here