Overseas Filipino workers remain the top source market of the state-owned Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC).
In a statement, DFPC said Filipino tourists, balikbayans and OFWs make up 85 percent of their market share.
Vicente Pelgaio Angala, DFPC chief operating officer, said sales in 2019 have reached US$226 million, a 4 percent growth from 2018.
Aside from the OFW market, the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games, the opening of the high-end shopping mall Duty Free Luxe at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and Chinese tourism boom contributed to the sales upswing.
Tourists who visited the newly rehabilitated Boracay Island also bought duty-free products at the Kalibo airport.
The top four products frequently bought at duty-free shops are: confectionery (31%) liquor (21%), fragrance and cosmetics (18%) and fashion merchandise.
DFPC said they will open a new store at the Hilton Sun Valley Resort inside Clark Freeport Zone by the first quarter of this year.
For OFWs coming home soon, these are the frequently asked questions about shopping at Duty Free:
