World duty-free internet search complete.

This week saw the launch of the enhanced dutyfreeonarrival.com worldwide duty-free search engine for travellers. Travelling shoppers can now search for the details of duty free and travel retail outlets around the world in any travel mode, such as airports, ferries, cruises or border stores. Customs allowances for over 170 Countries are included, with more being added all the time. This enables travellers to research and consider their travel shopping before they leave home in line with the growth in web based travel planning. Ivor Smith Founder of the business said "the world is a big place, it will take us some time to incorporate all the outlets, rules and regulations, least of all in nine languages. I have to admit some of our translations need improving. But, we are working hard at getting there soon. It is clear from the travel forum postings on the web that the consumer wants this information in advance and before he arrives at the airport, boards his ship or drives through a border and we intend to give it to them as best and easy as we can and under one simple banner".


The site now permits specific searches for cruises, ferries, border stores, airports and allowances. The next step, already in production, is a full detail of in-flight shopping and a mobile App. Smith also said "our software developers are from the former Russian Republics and Eastern Europe seems to have a very good aptitude for this type of database logic, we can't wait for them to to produce the mobile App. Eventually all the outlets will be geo-located, so that potential customers can be 'pinged' when they are within 100 metres of the nearest shop"

Smith was asked, "how do you intend to make money out of this". His response? "when the duty-free retail industry fully moves into the internet age, where are retailers and advertisers more likely to affiliate, on 5000 or so different travel blogs, discount sites or some of the few websites that properly address this subject for the consumer? Will they follow the logical path, we shall see"



you can check before you fly at www.dutyfreeonarrival.com