SEA Games high, thirst for luxury boost Duty Free sales

Duty Free Philippines, which caters mostly to balikbayans, made $226 million in sales last year, up 4 percent from 2018.

In a statement on Wednesday, Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) said Filipino tourists, balikbayans and overseas Filipino workers remained the top source market with a share of 85 percent.

According to DFPC chief operating officer Vicente Pelagio Angala, the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games and the opening of high-end shopping mall Luxe have significantly contributed to the upswing.

He also noted the growing number of tourists visiting the newly rehabilitated Boracay Island via Kalibo airport has been beneficial to DFPC sales.

Confectionery is still the major growth driver of the state-owned firm, with a 31-percent share of the total sales, followed by liquor (21 percent), fragrance and cosmetics (18 percent) and fashion merchandise (10 percent).DFPC said it had also met a number of significant milestones last year, including the opening of Go Lokal’s Marahuyo in November.

“In line with the directive of Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, we have augmented our product portfolio, which now includes more local artisans,” Angala said. The initial collection featured at Marahuyo shows the country’s creativity as the pieces are distinctly Filipino.

DFPC has also expanded the list of exclusive brands it carries, which now includes Gucci Beauty, Armani Beauty, Hogan and MCM.

In 2019, DFPC has also embarked on the long-awaited renovation of the Fiestamall and Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 1 Arrival stores.

DFPC is expected to maintain the momentum with the opening of Duty Free store at the Hilton Sun Valley Resort inside Clark Freeport Zone by the first quarter of this year.

DFPC is the country’s sole operator of the duty- and tax-free merchandising system.