Transport
AOT Discusses the Status of Arrival Duty-Free Shops in Thailand
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has addressed the ongoing absence of arrival duty-free shops across eight major airports, a policy in effect for over two years.
According to a report by Prachachat Business, Pavina, a top executive at Airports of Thailand (AOT), has provided insights regarding the current status of arrival duty-free shops. It has been over two years since these facilities were discontinued at eight major airports across the country, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, and U-Tapao.
For travelers and residents, this means that duty-free shopping remains restricted to departure areas or online pre-order systems, as the arrival halls have not offered these services for some time. The absence of these shops impacts those who prefer to purchase tax-exempt goods upon landing rather than carrying them throughout their journey.
While the AOT executive has spoken on the rationale behind the existence and management of these services, the report highlights that the policy of keeping arrival duty-free shops closed remains in place. It remains to be confirmed whether there are any official plans to reintroduce these services in the future or if the current operational model will continue indefinitely. Travelers should continue to plan their shopping accordingly, keeping in mind that duty-free access is currently limited to departure zones.