Retail firms prepare to greet Southeast Asian tourists

Foreign tourists shop for cosmetic products at a CJ Olive Young store in Seoul, on March 22. Courtesy of CJ Olive Young
Foreign tourists shop for cosmetic products at a CJ Olive Young store in Seoul, on March 22. Courtesy of CJ Olive Young


By Kim Jae-heun

Local retailers are busy preparing for foreign tourists who are expected to visit in large numbers this April as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and travelers return around the globe.

This month, in particular, will see several big holidays such as “Songkran,” the Thai New Year in Thailand and Good Friday in the Philippines, thereby offering travelers from Southeast Asia the opportunity to visit Korea.
Shinsegae Department Store will be handing out welcome gifts such as eye mask packs and beverage coupons to tourists who get new mileage cards issued in-store.

Shinsegae Duty Free plans to deploy helpers who can speak Thai and Vietnamese in its stores. They will work from Saturday to Monday during peak time, and help with interpretation.

Lotte Department Store is also running a promotion to provide gift cards worth 5 percent to 7 percent for purchases made by foreign customers this month. Lotte Duty Free held a briefing session for 50 local travel agencies to attract tourists from Southeast Asia, Japan and China too.

Foreign tourists shop for cosmetic products at a CJ Olive Young store in Seoul, on March 22. /p pCourtesy of CJ Olive Young
Shoppers walk on the popular street of Myeong-dong shopping district in Seoul, on March 22. Korea Times file


Hyundai Department Store has set up a kiosk machine at its Songdo branch in Incheon to provide tourism information in the town as well as currency exchange rates for the convenience of foreign shoppers. It is also considering establishing a lounge exclusively for foreign tourists.
“The customer base is expanding from individuals to group tourists from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan.

Local retailers are planning and offering various promotional events to attract foreign tourists,” a local retail firm official said.

Foreign tourists are key to local retailers’ good performance this year. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, Saturday, 434,439 people visited Korea in January. The number has increased 430 percent, year-on-year, but it is only 30 percent compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.

The number of international visitors is expected to increase even more.

Nearly 100,000 foreigners visited Hyundai Premium Outlet located in the Seoul Capital Area here from January to February.

It has increased six times compared with the last year.

Lotte Department Stores in Sogong-dong and Jamsil in Seoul also saw huge increases in foreign shoppers recently.

The increase in international tourists led to Lotte Department Store’s sales in Sogong-dong and Jamil jumping 650 percent and 410 percent respectively, between January and February, year-on-year.

In the same period, Shinsegae Department Store’s sales to foreign tourists at its Sogong-dong branch in Seoul, soared 310.4 percent.

Tags:

coinbase listed on couponmatrix.ukcountry-house-outdoor listed on couponmatrix.ukhawes-and-curtis listed on couponmatrix.ukpetit-fernand listed on couponmatrix.uksnag-tights listed on couponmatrix.ukvegas-creative-software listed on couponmatrix.uk
coinbase listed on couponmatrix.ukBe you a Bitcoin billionaire or a cryptocurrency novice, Coinbase provides the means and resources to have full awareness of the digital currency market. Providing you with accessible tools to earn, trade and transfer hundreds of different cryptocurrencies online, all a customer needs is a Coinbase promo code to ensure they’re getting optimal conversion rates on their next trade. With daily price updates, frequent cryptocurrency news and a range of tutorials to get even the most oblivious newcomer acquainted with the basics, Coinbase is the crypto marketplace of choice.
country-house-outdoor listed on couponmatrix.ukFounded in 1999 CHO Fashion & Lifestyle has evolved from a classic country store based in the English city of Carlisle to a global retailer supplying a wide range of clothing, footwear and accessories. CHO womenswear and menswear collections boast internationally recognised brands for you to use your CHO discount code on. These include Lacoste, Boss Orange, Timberland, The North Face, Skechers, Birkenstock and Toms alongside iconic British heritage brands such as Barbour, Hunter, Barker, Dr Martens, Seasalt and Joules.
hawes-and-curtis listed on couponmatrix.ukSince its inception, the Hawes and Curtis heritage brand has been adored by the British aristocracy and Hollywood elite. With notable customers including the Duke of Windsor, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra, you’ll be keeping good company while shopping affordably for menswear with a Hawes and Curtis discount code. Bringing true British style and class to everyone, Hawes and Curtis also offer a generous women's wear section too.
petit-fernand listed on couponmatrix.ukEnsure you and your little one’s never lose their essentials with a little labelling from Petit-Fernand. Crafters of personalised tags, labels, lunchboxes and water bottles, Petit-Fernand is there to assist every parent with the everyday constant hustle and bustle. A Petit Fernand discount code is all that’s required to secure savings on labels that’ll last for months or even years. Be it for school, holiday or days out, you’ll never lose track of your child’s essentials with Petit-Fernand.
snag-tights listed on couponmatrix.ukWhatever your size, shape or style, Snag Tights have a fit for you. Embracing the weird and wonderful world of tights with all the colours and patterns imagination can conjure, rest assured there’ll be a design you adore just waiting to be bought for less with a Snag Tights discount code. Endlessly endeavouring to produce fun and themed legwear that’ll make every outfit pop, it’s easy to see why so many stride with pride in a pair of Snag Tights.
vegas-creative-software listed on couponmatrix.ukStream, edit and create with Vegas Creative Software! Offering some of the best video and audio editing software available on the market today, this software is a fan-favourite for professionals and amateurs alike. Get a great deal on this stellar service with a Vegas Creative Software discount code and begin your creative journey with plenty of extra cash in the bank. Whether your passion lies in sound, film or animation, it's easy to bring your ambitions to live with Vegas Creative Software. At Groupon, we know that creative professionals are always looking for ways to save money on software products. That's why we do our damndest to find the best discount codes and promo codes for VEGAS Creative Software, whatever kind of content creator you are. We want you to be able to get the software you need at a price you can afford, so check back often for the latest deals! If you're looking for a great deal on VEGAS Creative Software, be sure to check out their selection of discounts on VEGAS products. With VEGAS Creative Software promo codes, you can save even more on editing, production and streaming tools designed to give your content an edge. So whether you're looking to use VEGAS Pro, VEGAS Post or VEGAS Edit, you're sure to find a great deal that'll knock the cost of the software you need most.