February 5 2020  |  Associations

APTRA hails Indian government’s liquor allowance decision

By Mary Jane Pittilla

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has welcomed the news that the Indian government has chosen not to reduce the liquor duty free allowance in India's Union Budget 2020.

The original proposal would have seen limits to liquor purchases at duty free shops and restrictions to cigarette carton purchases.

Commenting on the Indian government’s decision, announced on February 1, 2020, APTRA President Grant Fleming said: "We are pleased that no reductions were made to the duty free allowance in India's Union Budget 2020, announced 1 February 2020. We are grateful for the support of APTRA members in India bringing vital knowledge and local insight to the table. Additionally, working alongside the Association of Private Airport Operators (India) as well as Airports Council International enabled a timely representation back to the relevant government bodies. We also obtained further support as part of a broader industry approach that included fellow associations, DFWC [Duty Free World Council] and ETRC [European Travel Retail Confederation].”

Fleming continued: "We'll keep a close eye on the situation going forward, working with our members in the region to continue the connection we have established with the Indian government regulators. A key objective for us is to engage them with the unique dynamics of the travel retail market and the valuable contribution it makes to airport infrastructure and to GDP, especially in emerging economies like India. Industry collaboration plays a vital role in maximizing our voice to stakeholders in national government and is an essential value running through APTRA's mission and our core strategic pillars of advocacy, networking and knowledge."

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