APTRA President Sunil Tuli calls for end to ‘ostrich’ mentality regarding duty free tobacco – 30/07/09
Published: 30/07/09
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Martin Moodie in Hong Kong
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"We cannot behave like ostriches anymore. We cannot have our heads in the sand and our butts in the air and wait for the storm to pass. Because it won’t." |
Sunil Tuli
President
APTRA |
ASIA PACIFIC. Sunil Tuli, President of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA), has called for a much stronger regional industry push to preserve duty free tobacco sales.
The category is facing a major challenge from the World Health Organization (WHO), which wants to eliminate duty free sales as part of a wider crackdown on alleged ‘illicit trade’.
In response the travel retail industry has argued that it sells tobacco – a legal product – in a highly regulated and controlled environment and that therefore it should not be associated with any illicit trade ban.
Speaking to The Moodie Report in Hong Kong this week, Tuli (who is also King Power Group Hong Kong Managing Director Travel Retail & Duty Free) said he planned to address the issue to industry stakeholders at The ACI Airport Business and Trinity Forum in Macau in September (23-25).
He noted: “Tobacco is a very important part of the industry, an industry which – particularly in airports, seaports and onboard airlines – is highly regulated.
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APTRA President Sunil Tuli calls for action on duty free tobacco issue |
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“The WHO coming in and saying that duty free is about illicit trading doesn’t make sense. And I think not enough is being done at the moment by associations, operators and other people involved in the industry, including suppliers. So it’s a call to take action and do something about it, instead of waiting for something to happen.”
“We cannot behave like ostriches anymore. We cannot have our heads in the sand and our butts in the air and wait for the storm to pass. Because it won’t.” For the full interview with Tuli, listen to The Moodie Podcast by clicking on the icon on this page.
MORE STORIES ON THE THREAT TO DUTY FREE TOBACCO SALES
TFWA fires back at Framework Convention Alliance criticism as duty free threat rises – 09/07/09
Duty free tobacco sales survive World Health Organization negotiations but ban ‘remains on the table’ – 05/07/09
Duty free tobacco comes under increasing threat as WHO negotiations continue in Geneva – 30/06/09
Duty free sales targeted on opening day of WHO negotiations on illicit tobacco – 29/06/09
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