KNTO Incheon outlets welcome 19.5m shoppers in 2006

Gavin Lipsith

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Korea National Tourism Organization has revealed some telling statistics about its retail business at Seoul Incheon airport to the Korea Times

State-owned Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) has told the Korea Times that its shops at Seoul Incheon International airport attracted 19.5m visitors in 2006.

Over half of the visitors, 52.7% were Korean. Of the remainder, 78% were Japanese, 4% Chinese and 3% US passengers.

Eight of the stores’ top 10 best sellers are beauty products, with tobacco and liquor also making strong sales. The strongest brand at the airport stores is Lancome, followed by Estée Lauder, Chanel, Sisley and Christian Dior. The sales mix differs markedly from downtown duty-free stores and department stores in South Korea, where luxury accessories including those from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Hermès and Coach lead sales.