Travellers will enjoy discounts of up to 50% versus the high street across a range of products when passenger ferry operator DFDS opens its new duty free store in the port of Dunkirk, France on Monday (4 October).

The €290,000/$335,000 duty free shop will offer discounts on perfumes, cosmetics, handbags and sunglasses across 700sq m of retail space at the passenger terminal building.

As reported, the UK’s departure from the EU in January ushered in the return of duty free alcohol and tobacco sales on cross-Channel ferry routes.

Passengers travelling between the UK and EU can now avail of excise duty free and tax free pricing across a number of products.

Steve Newbery, Commercial Onboard Director, DFDS UK Ferry Routes, said: “We need to educate the passenger where there are real savings to be had. Perfume is already our biggest sales category but spirits, wines, beers and new categories like electronics will feature heavily.

EDUCATION REQUIRED

“We have had to change till systems and ranges of products. Back in 1999 the Channel business suffered a huge drop after the end of duty free and took many, many years to recover but this new opportunity combined with higher limits is a real positive for the ferry industry.”

DFDS says the aim for the Dunkirk duty free shop is to add DKK140m in revenue for DFDS over the next five years by supplementing the duty free offer onboard its ships and allowing customers to make bulk purchases ashore.

It adds that the Dunkirk shop will also help drive visitors to the local area and grow the tourism economy in Calais and Dunkirk.

DFDS undertook a survey on passengers’ attitudes to duty free shopping before the changes kicked in this year.

Of those surveyed, 35% weren’t aware of the duty free changes but 45% indicated they always take advantage where available.

The survey also found that today’s modern traveller expects more than the conventional offers that were available prior to the abolition of intra-EU duty free in 1999.

The most popular products bought by those who said they take advantage of duty free discounts are spirits (64%), fragrances & beauty (61%) and wine (51%)​.

Among the other findings, more than 70% of those aged 65+ buy spirits; fragrance and beauty are most popular with younger respondents (under 35); more than 80% travel abroad for leisure at least once per year; and the majority of respondents would spend between £100-£199 in a duty free shop.

Following the rule change in January, passengers travelling between Britain and the EU can now benefit from inbound allowances including 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine, four litres of spirits and 200 cigarettes.

In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.