Reasons Balikbayan and Tourist Should Go Shopping at Duty Free Philippines

I have a confession to make. This was the first time I went shopping at the Duty Free Philippines.

While I’ve been travelling in and out-of-the-country and I have relatives and friends who comes and go, never did I ever ask them to go shopping there or dragged myself in there. I always thought Duty Free shops inside the airport are more expensive than buying them from the actual stores of an imported brand I want. But I just learned it was not.

Yesterday, I was one of those invited by the Duty Free Philippines to take a look at their renovated Departure and Arrival area stores at the newly rehabilitated Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Philippines.

They wanted us to see how their shops is now at par with the duty free shop around the world. The also would like us to realize why Balikbayan and tourist should go shopping at the Duty Free Philippines (DFP).

1. Contrary to popular belief, it is more cheaper to shop in the Duty Free shops inside the arrival or departure areas of the airport as prices are way lower. For example fashion brands like bags, clothes and cosmetics are priced 15 to 20 percent lower than when you buy it outside or in the mall stores of the brands.

 

2. Chocolates sold are from U.S. and Australia, compared to chocolates sold in department stores and groceries that are from Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore. The taste is definitely different if it comes from the U.S. and Australia supplier compared to the regional supplier. Chocolate lovers know that.

3.You can shop before leaving the airport and pick it up later upon arrival so you don’t have to worry about over baggage with their Travelite program.It is a shop-now-pick-up later promotion for outbound passengers of any nationality who will be returning to the Philippines within 30 days. All purchases under this promo is entitled to a 7% discount.

Likewise, the Duty Free outlets at the NAIA Terminal 3 also underwent major renovations to cater to the increase in passenger traffic due to the relocation of major airlines such as Delta, KLM Royal Dutch, Emirates, Singapore Air and Cathay Pacific.

DFP engaged the services of world-renowned design team Sounda Design Inc. led by the brilliant French tandem of Architect Frederic Chevassus and designer Philippe Larosse. The Perfumes, Cosmetics and Fashion areas’ elegant and more functional design adopted an ‘aerodynamic’ concept using aircraft details, such as a plane’s wings and propeller, as inspirations. The new layout aims to project the airport outlet as inviting from all sides of the store perimeter, drawing the target customer into the interior. Sounda Design Inc. is based in Taiwan and Hong Kong and specializes in architectural planning, interior design and construction.

The DFP stores have been redesigned to achieve a more attractive, dynamic and functional retail environment to cater to the discriminating taste of its shoppers, made up of international travelers, tourists and balikbayans (arriving Filipino residents). And with the new Duty Free shops’ cutting-edge design, state-of-the-art interiors and amenities, DFP has also assembled an impressive line-up of the world’s best travel retail brands that cater to the discriminating tastes of international travelers.

Top perfumery, cosmetics and fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Bulgari, Christian Dior, Clinique, Clarins, L’Occitane, La Prairie, SK-II and Lacoste are expected to attract both new and loyal customers. The other highly in-demand duty free product categories still house the usual best-selling brands; such as Cadbury, Hershey’s, M&M’s, Toblerone and Nestle for confectionery, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Jack Daniels, Hennessy, Ballantines, Remy Martin and Macallan for liquor and spirits; Michael Kors, Anne Klein, Skagen, Cerruti and Armani for watches; among many others.
A special ‘brand’ experience await the jet-setters as fashion boutiques of luxury labels abound at the Terminals, specifically Coach, Salvatore Ferragamo, Longchamp, and Chloe. Aside from these designer brands of top quality leather goods and fashion accessories, DFP also houses an extensive range of the popular Kiehl’s beauty products while the now trendy, high quality jewelry brand, Pandora, is set to open soon.

Store development and product expansion are endeavors perennially on DFP’s priority list. Aside from meeting the high standards of its target customers, these ensure that DFP stores keep pace with the dynamism and sophistication of the international travel retail industry.

Duty Free Philippines is an attached agency of the country’s Tourism Department and its earnings accrue to the DOT to help support the Philippines’ tourism infrastructure, programs and projects. It is also worthy to note that as the country’s only tax and duty free travel retailer, the DFP shops are, significantly, the very first to welcome balikbayans and tourists into the country as well as the last to bid them farewell after having had more fun in the Philippines.

How about you have you shopped here before?  How was your experience?

Stay gorgeous everyone!