Over half (54.9%) of travel retail and duty free (TR&DF) stakeholders who responded to our recent LinkedIn poll expect the resumption of outbound travel from China to help facilitate the biggest boost to business in 2023.

It drew the lion’s share of votes in the poll*, conducted as part of the Global Industry Survey 2023, followed by lobbying work on duty free allowances (17.6%), engaging with Gen Z travellers (13.7%) and utilising online duty free purchasing platforms (13.7%).

As previously reported, China is taking major steps toward unlocking the country’s borders after three years of stringent Covid-19 measures.

The processing of routine passport applications for tourism and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel is set to resume from 8 January 2023.

Until then, the issuing of new passports and passport renewals continue to be for ‘essential’ reasons only (including for business travel and study reasons).

As highlighted by Dragon Trail, the sale of outbound group and package travel has not yet resumed, but ‘it seems imminent’ according to the company, which revealed the top 10 outbound destinations preferred by travellers from China as part of its latest Chinese Traveler Sentiment Report.

Watch this space for more updates, and the impact on the travel retail industry.

Will experiences at the POS be the biggest factor driving consumer engagement in 2023?

The poll is one of three social media exclusive polls that are being conducted as part of this year’s Global Industry Survey.

The second, which closed earlier today, invited TR&DF stakeholders to cast their votes on what they believe will be the most effective tool for driving consumer engagement with their brand and products the channel in 2023.

There were four options to pick from (see the snapshot below) – and the results will be revealed soon.

The third and final social media exclusive poll is asking the industry to select the biggest factor they think will help to inspire happy shoppers in travel retail in 2023.

Just like the other polls, there are four options to pick from: having a broad product range, offering price savings/excellent value, a seamless/frictionless shopping experience, and experiencing a sense of place.

Currently, price savings/excellent value is leading the way with a significant 51% of the vote.

The poll is open until Friday (6 January 2023) and stakeholders can click the snapshot above to cast their votes.

READ MORE: Make your voice heard in the 2023 TRBusiness Global Industry Survey

The results of all three of the LinkedIn polls will be published as part of the Global Industry Survey in the TRBusiness January 2023 e-zine.

Less than three days left to have your say in the Global Industry Survey

To answer more questions like these and share your views on the business landscape for the year ahead, TRBusiness invites TR&DF stakeholders to fill in the Global Industry Survey 2023** main questionnaire, which is open until the end of the day on Friday 6 January, 2023.

It’s quick and easy to complete, taking just 14 minutes, on average, from start to finish.

Respondents will have the chance to see a selection of their attributed comments featured in the report, which will be published in the January 2023 TRBusiness e-zine and/or online at TRBusiness.com.

If you would prefer to receive the survey in a word document, please email [email protected]. TRBusiness would like to thank all those who have already responded, as well as all those who have contacted us and are planning to take part this week.

READ MORE: Global Industry Survey 2023 now live: Have your say

*The poll, conducted by TRBusiness on LinkedIn, ran for two weeks and attracted a total of 51 votes. DF&TR stakeholders were invited to cast their vote on the factor they think will help to facilitate the biggest boost for their business in the channel in 2023, with four options to choose from (as outlined above), based upon TRBusiness’ industry knowledge.

**I understand that my answers to questions posed by the TRBusiness Global Industry Survey can be published and will be attributed to myself (using the name, job title and company name I have provided) on TRBusiness’ channels (excluding questions listed for ‘internal use only’) as TRBusiness deems suitable.