A perfect storm has hit tourism here – intense competition from rival Asian tourist destinations, a high Thai Baht, the worsening US-China trade wars and the sustained adverse publicity from the Phuket boat tragedy in July 2018.
Events
High tension, high stakes in Hong Kong
The headlines don’t come from a regular world trouble spot where the people are raging against the actions of some despot they wish to see toppled.
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Travel
Buoyant in Beijing, sleepless over Siberia
In both culinary and commercial terms there are plenty of exciting options on the menu.
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Events
“Y’all come back to Dallas.” We sure will
What could have been a standard Q&A session turned into a warm, deep and revealing chat, which left me and the audience knowing a lot more about the how and why of these two contrasting companies’ success stories.
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Events
Headed for some FABulous action in the Lone Star state
FAB 2011 became affectionately known as the Frozen Food & Beverage Conference as delegates sat stoically listening to presentations while wrapped in blankets more commonly used at 35,000 feet.
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Miscellaneous
The world of Wi-Fi waits for no man
The Lake District is a place to restore one’s equilibrium; sooth the gnawing anxiety of workplace pressures; and remind yourself that gentle pleasures are the best of all. Unless one of the world’s most important duty free concessions comes up for grabs, that is.
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Airports
Aching in the places that I used to play
I decided to fly as despite all my efforts, Nestlé International Travel Retail and World Duty Free wouldn’t let me take the Heathrow bus.
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Airports
From Heisei to Reiwa: a changing era in Japan
We’re on location in Japan at an auspicious time for the country, and not just because of the famed ‘sakura’ or cherry blossom season that brings such beauty to the Spring landscape. Japan’s imperial succession has been planned for some time, with the ascendance of Crown Prince Naruhito to the throne on 1 May, replacing
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Airports
Feasting on variety at Tokyo Haneda
Each time I visit Tokyo Haneda Airport, I’m reminded of exactly why it is ranked towards the top of the consumer-voted Skytrax list of the world’s best airports each year. As we reported last week, Haneda was second only to Singapore Changi in the voting for World’s Best Airport, Changi having won for the seventh
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Events
Korean duty free may be yummy but don’t expect any golden eggs
Just as the Chinese government is seeking to crack down on, perhaps eliminate, daigou trading, there is the likelihood of more duty free licences here. Really? If that happens, Korea’s duty free chickens will have come home to roost. But they won’t be laying any golden eggs.
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Events
Chasing the Chinese wave
The Moodie Davitt Report’s latest interim bureau opened on Friday (for two days only) in Trieste, the beautiful Italian port city. We’ve come here for Costa Cruises’ latest ship launch, and one that marks a milestone for the Italian cruise specialist and its retail partner, LVMH-owned Starboard Cruise Services. The Costa Venezia is the first
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Airports
Setting new standards in Cebu
Chinese tourism is booming and with it travel retail is on the up and up. But it’s not just about international tourism. Domestic travel, both by locals and foreigners, is also booming across this spectacularly diverse nation.
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Airports
On location in Oman, a country of contrasts
Before travelling to Muscat this week for the inauguration of the new airport terminal and Muscat Duty Free stores, I mentioned to a few people that my next trip was to Oman. Even those who knew a little about this Gulf state struggled to conjure up an image of the country and its place in