New Arrivals Duty Free Shop Opens At Airport

December 6, 2012

The first ever Arrivals Duty Free Shop in Bermuda opened its doors this week at the L.F. Wade International Airport, allowing passengers to enjoy the benefits of the duty free shopping experience immediately upon their arrival on the Island.

Located between the Immigration arrivals hall and the baggage reclaim area, the new store — operated by Bermuda Duty Free Ltd. — will offer a wide selection of wines and spirits and tobacco products at duty free prices.

Mr. Charles Gosling, who is the Managing Director of Bermuda Duty Free Ltd., said the store plans to develop its arrivals offering further by introducing a pre-order service whereby travellers can select products either upon departure at the airport or by ordering beforehand. Pre-ordered duty free items will be packaged and ready for pick up by customers upon their arrival in Bermuda.

The debut of the new Arrivals Duty Free Shop signifies the successful outcome of the combined efforts of the Customs Department, the Department of Airport Operations, the Attorney General’s Chambers and Bermuda Duty Free Ltd. over the past year to extend duty free shopping to both returning Bermuda residents and visitors alike.

With the opening of the new arrivals shop, Bermuda joins more than 50 countries around the world that have arrivals duty free shops, including the UK. A number of other countries are actively considering implementing arrivals duty free.

Passenger duty free allowances will apply to goods purchased from the Arrivals Duty Free Shop. This means that passengers who purchase duty free goods and do not exceed their duty free allowances will be able to exit Customs via the green channel without making a written declaration.

Passengers who exceed their duty free allowances will be obliged to pay duty on the excess as usual. Such passengers may simply declare their purchases to their Customs Traveller Declaration alongside any other goods they may have acquired abroad.

Each arriving passenger is currently entitled to import duty free 1 litre of wine, 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, ½ kg. tobacco.

A Government spokesperson said: “The experiences of other countries that allow arrivals duty free sales have been universally positive, and Bermuda may expect to reap similar benefits. Furthermore, experience internationally would seem to suggest that Arrivals Duty Free has no appreciable impact on other local retail sales. Rather, it has been found that duty free revenues have come mainly at the expense of duty free shops in foreign airports.

“The repatriation of duty free sales currently being transacted in airports abroad, such as JFK or Gatwick, will allow Government to collect revenue that is currently being spent overseas. The introduction of arrivals duty free sales has also served to enhance the non-aeronautical revenues of the Department of Airport Operations through the leasing of the necessary commercial space for the arrivals store.

“The operation of the arrivals store will also result in new airport jobs at a time when the Government seeks to stimulate the Bermuda economy, including the important retail sector.

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Comments (37)

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  1. Boom Bye Bye says, 'me no deh pon dat" says:

    So this is the only thing they can let us have duty free?? Liquor and cigarettes? WTF

    • Will says:

      i was thinking the same thing..goes to show what they expect us to do on this island..drink, drink, drink…our worship of booze is going to be our downfall.

  2. Will says:

    wonder how many people are going to buy cigarettes and sell them once outside

  3. SoMuchMore says:

    …and the drunks have spoken! LOL

  4. Terry says:

    So I brought 200 ciggies with me.
    Was I told this prior?
    Were doomed.

  5. Triangle Drifter says:

    Whatever! I imagine what most people want is to be out of that airport as fast as possible.

  6. RawOnion says:

    So, i’m waiting for my guests to come out of the airport and they’re in there browsing for liquor and ciggs? “Ay, Yo, bring your a$$ to the car before I get clamped!!!”

    • Hamilton Commuter says:

      Spend one dollar and your car won’t get clamped. Perhaps your guest will pick up a bottle of bubbly for you.

      Better to buy your duty free here than in Gatwick or JFK.

      Have a Merry Christmas!

      • That depends says:

        That depends on what sort of selection you want – duty free at Gatwick is impressive – duty free in the departures area of the Bda airport, not so much.

  7. This is a great idea for all of us Bermudians that arrive home and can go straight into the duty free shop and get our dark and stormys and get totally smashed before leaving the airport so we wont have to worry about why the heck we came back to Bermuda in the first place,Now that is clever idea for who ever thought that up

    • Petra says:

      hahahahahahahaha – spat my coffee over my keyboard, but it was worth it! Thanks

  8. Boss Lady says:

    Call it a liquor shop… because that’s exactly what it is. SMH

  9. Obvious says:

    I can have a flask while I wait in line on 2 customs officers that will process 150 passengers. Then I wont be irritated/embarrased once I get my bags searched straight down to my dirty panties.

    So now the nervous drug importers can blame it on the ALCOHOL.

  10. Obvious says:

    PLP Approved this venture innaaaaaa

  11. Uni kid says:

    I have a question. I’m 18 and currently studying abroad in Canada. As I will be going back and forth between Bermuda and Canada can I buy alcohol from the Duty Free shop in Berm and take it into Canada, despite the fact that the drinking age there is 19?

    • Family Man says:

      Not doing so well on the reading comprehension bits are you? The new Duty Free Shop is in the ARRIVALS section in Bermuda.

      • Uni kid says:

        There’s definitely one in the departure section too bro. That’s what I was asking about. Nice job there.

    • Katie says:

      Yes and no. If you get searched they will confiscate it from you, you can try and risk it though. Just depends if you get searched or not. You don’t get into any trouble though.. you’re just left without your alchy.

  12. LaVerne Furbert says:

    I guess Charles Gosling doesn’t know what he’s doing. Are all of the negative comments directed at him?

    • Mountain goat says:

      Nice to hear from you again Ms. Furbert. I thought the PLP big guns had placed a gag order on you, Burch, Burgess and a few of the others that do damage whenever they flap their lips.

  13. Ringmaster says:

    Charles Gosling knows very well what he is doing. Making money. So increasing the exposure to cheap alcohol is now a PLP priority? No wonder the social fabric of Bermuda has gone to hell.

    • edwin says:

      BLAME THE GOSLING’S NOT PLP,THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND LONGER.

      • .am says:

        PLP are seeking credit for it, though. Hell – give it to ‘em.

  14. jojo says:

    Will it be open on Sundays?

  15. street wise says:

    Duty Free in Arrivals is a well-thought-out idea that certainly will help local retailers to stay in business….

    • Absolutely says:

      After all, arriving visitors can buy their booze in the airport and not have to burden those local retailers with sales. Sounds completely logical. Doesn’t it?

  16. James says:

    How is it a revenue earner if it is a duty free shop?

  17. Bullseye says:

    My mate came through last night from Miami and it was closed. He asked me what it was and I had no idea, but it was closed.

    If it is there giving rum cake samples and spreading cheer for newcomers to the island then that is a positive. Goslings black rum spreading around the world is a good thing. Positive vibes upon arrival are a good thing also. Let’s see what can develop from this.

    • Mountain goat says:

      I agree, Im personally no longer a fan of the PLP and will be voting OBA this time – however, I like this small fist step they have taken.

  18. thinkfirst says:

    Never can satisfy Bermudians smh always got something negative to say

  19. Shawn S says:

    This really kills me how its unvailed right before election lol. Also how much money of the Gosling Money ends up back here cause i know it not made here anymore.

  20. Small fry says:

    Returning residents can now buy cheap duty free booze and cigs when they come home and sell em for a profit at Harbour nights

  21. Whatever says:

    I travel alot and the LAST thing I want to do is shop at the airport when I ARRIVE. Just me?

    • Mountain goat says:

      I agree not sure I would shop after a flight home – however, others don’t feel the way. The duty free at arrivals at Gatwick was packed when I was just there

  22. Petra says:

    Despite my laughing at the comment from mr Santucci, I support this idea. Not because I will spend a lot of money there, but that is is a great way to introduce tourists to the island, I agree with the comment above about little samples – even if the tourists don’t buy at the time they may remember and buy while on island or on departures. Throw in a couple of Gombeys and you have a welcoming experience.

    Also – won’t this be creating at least a couple of jobs? I’d consider buying my cigs or booze allowance on my return for this reason alone.

  23. Crazy Times In BDA says:

    Lol rubbish! Guess this gives more meaning to the song “Bermudians Love To Drink”. We do this to ourselves.

    P.S. watch for police while leaving airport might get pulled over for DUI.

  24. Toby Fellows says:

    You can always find out about arrivals duty free facilities from a website I use when I travel…. http://www.dutyfreeonarrival.com , it lets you where you can buy and what your allowances are and sometimes a price list is available.

    One point about the article…. there are NO duty free shops on arrival in the UK (or any other EU country)… at least now you can check your facts before publishing.