Responsible Retail Training seminars, improvements to the DF&TR Database, plus topical research studies and advocacy support are major priorities for APTRA this year.

 

The Board of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) said these subjects will dominate its activities in the early months of 2015. It says that a ‘wide-ranging research programme is being conducted for APTRA by respected industry research company m1nd-set which has marked the beginning of this year by producing a study of the shopping behaviour of Chinese travellers on domestic and international journeys.

 

This includes detailed motivations for shopping and why some do not shop, as well as their product preferences and a breakdown of customer segmentation on selected routes. APTRA says the headline results of this Diageo-sponsored research will be shared with delegates at the TFWA China’s Century Conference on Thursday 12th March in Shanghai, which APTRA is organising in partnership with TFWA,

 

APTRA adds that future research topics will include the behaviour and attitudes of Asia Pacific (ASPAC) travellers (China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam) in the region; a focus on Russian travellers in Asia Pacific; the behaviour and attitudes of non-ASPAC passengers in the region; inflight shopping – perceptions and the impact of promotions; behaviour and attitudes of ASPAC versus non-ASPAC passengers in Asia Pacific; and the evaluation of future inflight shopping and concepts.

 

 

A BUSY YEAR AHEAD….

In a statement, APTRA said: “The Responsible Retail Training Programme, which has already been adopted by several major retailers, will be extended to other retailers in the region in order to ensure that there are consistently high standards across the duty free and travel retail spectrum in the Asia Pacific region.

 

“The APTRA Seminars, aimed at bringing useful insights on successful travel retailing to member companies and at offering networking opportunities to facilitate growth of the industry, will be organised at various locations throughout the year.”

 

The association also promises that the popular APTRA Duty Free & Travel Retail Database will contain even more contact details of airports, airlines, ferry companies, retailers, distributors and suppliers. It also adds that central to the success of DF&TR in the Asia Pacific region is maintaining an open dialogue between all stakeholders and regulatory authorities through advocacy in 2015.

 

Jaya Singh, President APTRA, commented: “These research, training, advocacy and database initiatives are fundamental to the missions of the association, namely safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders and driving industry growth. In the last year we saw our membership grow by 20% and revenues grow by almost 40%, as more and more companies recognise the benefits they gain from the work accomplished and the need for a strong regional association.

“Our wish for 2015 is that we obtain greater recognition for the industry among governments so the industry can take part in more consultation with legislators as they deliberate on new regulations that may impact our business. This business is, after all, a vital revenue stream for airports, ferries, airlines and, indeed, governments.”