Incheon International posted US$2.1 billion in duty free sales in 2017, a +4.1% year-on-year increase. It meant that Incheon retained its status as the world’s leading duty free sales location, ahead of Dubai International.

While sales failed to keep pace with a +7.6% rise in passenger traffic, the result was surprisingly positive given a deeply challenging environment. The performance came despite the negative impact on Chinese tourism from the dispute between South Korea and China over the former’s deployment of US anti-missile system THAAD in March 2017.

Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) acknowledged the impact of THAAD on the tourism sector but said the airport was less exposed to Chinese spending than downtown duty free shops (for whom Chinese shoppers generally contribute upwards of 65% of total spend, in some cases much higher).

Beauty was again the best-selling category with sales edging ahead of 2016 by +0.5% to US$774 million, a 38% share of total revenues. Liquor & tobacco (21.9% share) followed with US$459 million (+4.3%), with leathergoods (14.3% share) up by +7.5% to US$301 million, the third-ranked category.

Expect revenues to be boosted further in 2018, by the return of Chinese tourism and by the expanded space at the new Terminal 2 (pictured), which opened on 18 January. T2 houses an extensive, often compelling retail and food & beverage offer. Technology and smart processes help create lengthy commercial dwell times, and an environmentally friendly, spacious and automated shopping experience.

There, Lotte Duty Free, The Shilla Duty Free and Shinsegae Duty Free cemented their positions as the key players in Incheon International’s commercial network, after securing the main duty free contracts last year (alongside three SMEs). Collectively the six retailers manage 10,000sq m of shopping space, around 60% of that in T1. The ambitious duty free programme features a series of category-exclusive stores, new brands and innovative design concepts. By offering a more efficient and spacious shopping area, IIAC expects a +20% uplift on like-for-like T1 retail sales.