Thai duty free and travel retail operator King Power International Group is preparing to open a second downtown duty free complex in Bangkok this autumn.

 

According to a report in the Bangkok Post, the 10,000 square metres complex – which will rival the company’s main downtown unit in Bangkok (pictured right) in terms of size – is set to open in October in Lat Krabang at an estimated cost of more than THB 1,000m ($33m).

 

The current complex is situated slightly to the north of the city centre whereas the new one in Lat Krabang, one of the capital’s 50 districts and located about 25km to the east, is in close vicinity to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

The new store will sell the usual array of DF&TR product staples such as fragrances, skincare and colour cosmetics, wines and spirits, and tobacco, to watches and jewellery, leather goods and fashion. King Power’s other downtown duty free complex is in the beach resort of Pattaya.

 

King Power International’s Executive Vice President for Marketing, Voramas Srivaddhanaprabha (left), told the Bangkok Post that business in 2013, so far, is buoyant and the company is focused on attracting new Thai customers through its doors.

 

Srivaddhanaprabha was not available for comment when TRBusiness.com contacted her about how the operator would bring in new Thai shoppers, but the new store – and its strategic location – is expected to be attractive to travellers. King Power has also started a major marketing campaign this summer to promote its brand and duty-free complexes.

 

Bangkok recently overtook London to become the world’s number one city for international travel, despite a +5.7% surge in the value of the Thai baht against the dollar since July last year. King Power’s various store locations, in particular, Suvarnabhumi Airport, are expected to reap the benefits of the city’s growing tourism base and its position as an air hub in the region.