NAA Retailing opens Japan’s first arrivals duty free store at Narita T2

JAPAN. NAA Retailing has opened the first of two arrivals duty free stores at Tokyo Narita Airport Terminal 2, under its Fa-So-La retail brand.

Fa-So-La Arrival Duty Free North opened today, 1 September, while Fa-So-La Arrival Duty Free South opens on Monday 4 September.

As reported, the stores will offer liquor and tobacco products from international brands in the initial phase. NAA Retailing told The Moodie Davitt Report that most customers on the opening day were Japanese and that they purchased mainly tobacco products.

The arrivals duty free business in Japan is expected to begin with modest sales, but has strong potential, say the country’s leading duty free retailers

A statement from NAA Retailing last month said: “These are the first duty free shops in the arrivals area of any airport in Japan and passengers are encouraged to take advantage of this new, innovative shopping experience when arriving at Narita Airport Terminal 2.”

As reported, further arrivals stores will follow before the end of the year at the other two terminals at the Japanese airport (Terminals 1 and 3), according to Narita International Airport Corporation.

The arrivals offer will complement NAA Retailing’s impressive departures stores at Narita

Other airports also plan to open arrivals duty free shops, under moves by the government to liberalise travel shopping rules for both visitors and Japanese.

The Moodie Davitt Report broke the news earlier this year that arrivals duty free shops would open at Japanese airports as part of reforms to the tax system in the country. “It could appeal to returning Japanese who do not want to carry bottles of liquor around on their trip and be a convenient last-minute shopping option,” Narita International Airport Corporation said at the time.

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