Ever Rich D.F.S Corporation has revealed to TRBusiness plans to open duty free and travel retail facilities spanning approximately 27,000 sq m of space at its new Penghu resort.

International and domestic duty free shopping facilities are among the major attractions at the new Discovery Hotel and Profond Pier No. 3 Shopping Plaza.

Visitors departing directly overseas from Penghu will be able to purchase goods in the shopping plaza’s international duty free shop, an Ever Rich source told TRBusiness.

In addition, Taiwanese residents and other visitors returning to Taiwan will be able to purchase goods in a separate ‘domestic’ duty free shop within the complex.

Duty free goods and brands curated for the Profond Pier Shopping Plaza duty free shops will appeal to young adults in East Asia, added the source.

FIVE-STOREY PLAZA

The Taiwanese firm yesterday announced a February ‘soft opening’ for the resort duty free shopping complex in Penghu, an archipelago of clustered islands located in the Taiwan strait between Taiwan and China, before a full launch later this summer.

Penghu is a fast growing summer vacation destination that is becoming well known for its marine sports activities and natural beauty.

Located 15 minutes by car from Penghu’s Magong Airport, Ever Rich’s Discovery Hotel and Profond Pier shopping complex will be similar in concept to the company’s Kinmen Ever Rich Golden Lake Plaza duty free shopping mall and hotel complex located in Kinhu town on Big Kinmen.

“Penghu has just received an award for having one of the best beaches in the world. Taiwanese and Japanese visitors go there – it’s mostly young people and young families,” added the source.

“The composition of tourists visiting Penghu will be different to Kinmen as there are good marine sports resources in Penghu such as wind surfing, diving and other activities.”

Luxury fashion brands, perfumes and cosmetics and other international duty free products will be displayed on the ground and 1^st floors of the five-storey Profond Pier Shopping Plaza.

Meanwhile, souvenirs, leisure and sports goods and cultural creative products will be displayed on the 3^rd floor.

Other travel retail attractions include a whisky museum named ‘Whisky 101’ to be located on the shopping plaza’s 2^nd floor. The display will include a whisky still allowing visitors to see the whisky distilling process.

In addition to duty free shopping and the whisky museum, the complex’s other entertainment attractions are located on the 4^th and 5^th floors and include a multiplex cinema and Go Star Challenge, an extreme sports challenge centre.

The 1,680 sq m challenge space will offer American Ninja Train, fun climbing and Taiwan’s first augmented reality (AR) rock climbing wall.

“As Penghu is a marine holiday destination it’s only popular in summer, so we need other attractions like the AR Go Star Challenge for winter visitors,” the source added.

Direct international flights from Penghu’s Magong Airport to China are operated during summer months while year round domestic flights serve Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other airports on Taiwan island.

Report written by David Hayes.

Watch out for a comprehensive Taiwan report in the January issue of TRBusiness, available soon.