South Korea announced that it will open duty-free stores at arrival terminals next year, ending more than a decade-long debate on launching the shops, South Korean media Yonhap News reported on Thursday.
It will open duty-free shops at arrival gates at Incheon International Airport next year to boost spending by foreign tourists and resolve inconvenience by South Korean outbound tourists of having to carry duty-free items purchased at departure gates during their travels.
The decision comes amid the growing number of foreign tourists to the country and as more international airports open arrival duty-free shops.
Japan opened its first duty-free shops at arrival gates last year. China allowed sales of duty-free items at arrival terminals in 2008 and approved more retailers to operate in 2016.
The issue of operating duty-free shops at airport arrival gates have long been debated in South Korea. It has met with opposition by companies running duty-free stores at departure gates and concerns for violation of equity of taxation.
