CANADA. An influential parliamentary committee this week recommended the introduction of Arrivals duty free shopping in Canada, a move that could be adopted by government in its spring 2010 budget.
In its report, entitled “˜Prosperous and Sustainable Future for Canada: Needed Federal Actions,’ the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance made the recommendation as part of its pre-budgetary consultations.
The move was greeted by the Canadian Airports Council (CAC), which represents the interests of airports in the country.
“Arrivals duty free is a long-standing request of Canada’s airports, and we encourage the Minister of Finance to adopt the standing committee’s recommendation on this valuable programme,” said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette.
Arrivals duty free would allow Canadian airport duty free retailers to grow their businesses and repatriate duty free sales currently lost to foreign duty free operators, added the CAC. “Arrivals duty free would be good for Canada’s airports, travellers and the Canadian economy,” noted Facette.
Airports and travel retailers have been urging the government to introduce Arrivals duty free shopping in Canada for many years. In 2008, government rejected previous recommendations to introduce Arrivals shopping. But in early 2009, it put the channel back on the agenda when it launched a consultation exercise to examine an Arrivals duty free programme.
This week the Finance Committee also acknowledged several other requests from Canada’s airports community, notably the development of foreign/free trade zones, a permanent solution for small airport funding and the elimination of airport rent.
About the Canadian Airports Council
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada’s airports. Its 47 members represent more than 200 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic. They create in excess of C$45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. And more than 200,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than C$8 billion annually.
MORE STORIES ON CANADA AND ARRIVALS DUTY FREE
Canadian government to study Arrivals duty free – 30/01/09
Canada’s airports urge Arrivals duty free move – 08/02/08
