THE expected abolition of duty-free from June 30 is not as bleak a proposition as some people think, according to Eurotunnel.
The company’s UK passenger marketing/sales director Peter Stratton said the importance of duty-free is overstated because it had been so lucrative.
“It simply means we are forced to focus more on our reasons for being here. When the playing field is level and no-one can benefit from duty-free, then it will really come down to who can offer the best product.”
He said cross-Channel operators needed to make sure customers realised that duty paid isn’t going to be scrapped. “People use Eurotunnel for shopping on the continent a great deal – and the savings they make will still be there.”
Eurotunnel has increased fares by 25% to 30% from this summer in line with the rest of the market.
“We are really treating this year as a game of two halves,” he explained.
“We have to assume it will go on June 30 and until then we must get as many people on Eurotunnel and buying duty-free as possible. Then the second half of the year starts and we must concentrate on replacing the lose revenue by encouraging new people to travel with us, and by encouraging those who do so already to do so more frequently.”