INDONESIA. Airport operator Angkasa Pura I (Persero) has announced the opening of Indonesia’s first duty free arrivals store at Bali I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
The 298sq m store officially opened on Friday 13 April. It is operated by PT Dufrindo International, the local enterprise of Dufry Group.
The new opening offers a convenient option to passengers arriving in Bali, who no longer have to make purchases at their departure airport and carry them on their journey, said I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport General Manager Yanus Suprayogi.
“The thinking [behind the new store] is that we want to provide [convenience] and a pleasant experience to passengers entering Bali.”
Because the store is located in the restricted arrivals area it requires direct supervision from the Indonesian Government Ministry of Finance’s Customs & Excise department.
Angkasa Pura I expects the new facility to further improve the quality of services on offer at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
During the inauguration of the store on Friday, Director of Customs Robi Toni said that Indonesia is now competitive with around 50 countries that have implemented a duty free arrivals policy.
Within a week of the store’s soft opening, the customer profile showed that 85% of customers who purchased were foreign tourists. The rest were returning Indonesian citizens.
“We will provide special packaging to distinguish goods purchased at Ngurah Rai Airport duty free arrivals with goods brought from the country of origin,” he added.
The opening of the store was also attended by PT. Angkasa Pura I (Persero) Director of International Relations and Business Development Sardjono Jhony Tjitrokusumo and Dufry Group General Manager of South Asia Thomas Galet.
