TFWA World visitor numbers down 11%

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Tax Free World Association today announced that on the first day Monday 22 October 2,961 visitors entered the exhibition, a reduction of 5.8% on last year. On Tuesday however, overall visitor attendance was 3,586 (of which 1,078 had not visited the previous day) giving an overall total for the two days of 6,547, down 11%.

The mood is very much business-as-usual, and there are reports of more quality visitors and more quality time. Key buyer attendance figures so far, based on their first visit have decreased slightly to 982, down 9.6% compared to last year. Among the key buyers attending the show this year are Adu Dhabi Duty Free, Aer Rianta International, Aldeasa, All Nippon Airways, Alpha Retail, Brasif, China Duty Free Group, DFS Group, Gebr Heinemann, JAL, Hotel Lotte, The Nuance Group, Paradise Duty Free, SAS Trading, Singapore Airlines and the newly-formed Duty Free Americas.

Despite lower numbers of both buyer and exhibitor personnel, for many exhibitors the show is not too far from its usual self with an extensive schedule of product launches. L'Oréal Luxury Products Division is unveiling a number of products including a new Cacharel scent (codenamed No 9) and the new Armani Mania for men. Yves Saint Laurent staged its travel-retail launch for Nu and MCM Parfums is using the exhibition to launch its new focus on travel-retail. The company is introducing its new fragrance duo at the show, MCM Women and MCM Men.

TFWA ceo Andrew Ford commented: "The visitor figures for the first two days are very encouraging. The exhibitors report that the stands are busy and they seem very happy with the numbers of buyers coming through."

The Club hospitality venue launched this year by TFWA has also proved a success from the first night onwards, attracting an estimated 1,500 visitors into a marquee on the beach opposite the Noga Hilton Hotel.