Tourism rebound boosts Dubrovnik duty-free

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The Croatian airport reports strong penetration as tourism rebounds, with duty-free turnover up 35% in 2003

Dubrovnik airport is benefiting from a surge in duty-free sales as tourists return to the Croatian resort. Airport authority and retailer Dubrovnik Airport has reported a 35% year-on-year rise in duty-free turnover in 2003 to Eu3.7m ($4.62m), driven by growing tourist traffic.

Despite the relatively small size of the airport's duty-free store, covering 300sq m (3,230sq ft), the penetration rate at Dubrovnik stands at an impressive 53%, said manager trade department Niksa Milanovic. ?Spend per passenger dropped slightly last year to Eu15 ($18.75), but our penetration rate is excellent,? he told TRW. ?Dubrovnik is well-known as a resort everywhere in Europe, and we are expecting increases in the number of Scandinavian, French and UK visitors this year.?

At present 32% of Dubrovnik airport's international traffic comes from Germany, 12% from the UK, 9% from Israel and 8% from both Ireland and France. Fragrances is the strongest product category at Dubrovnik, accounting for 32% of sales. Tobacco represents 26%, liquor 19%, confectionery 11% and local goods 9%.