Satisfying the needs of the ever-diversified whims of today’s international traveller is no mean feat. With so many regions coming into play and more travellers – from baby boomers to millennials – coming from the Middle East and Asia Pacific (and at almost twice the rate of visitors from Europe and the US), the DF&TR industry is struggling to satisfy the needs of all these diverse groups.
Although the TR market has tripled in size since 2002, as we know, the rate at which passengers are spending has slowed in recent years. Reversing this trend is dependent on the industry satisfying these ‘diverse’ needs. ”Diversity and meeting the needs of a broad range of travelling consumers is essential to any brand operating in travel retail”, confirms TFWA President Alain Maingreaud. ”While space in retail environments is often limited to maximise sales and revenue, retailers must look to provide the right balance between the familiar products each traveller looks for as well as the new and exciting to inspire”.