By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
What are the cash cows for duty-free shops in Incheon International Airport? Apparently, they are perfumes and cosmetics.
Eight out of top 10 best selling items of shops at the airport are cosmetics-related items, while cigarettes and liquors followed behind. Similar shops in central Seoul are making fortunes by selling handbags and other luxury goods.
Since imported goods are exempted from custom duties and domestic goods value added tax free, duty free shops are always full of customers going overseas wanting to buy good products cheap.
The French cosmetic brand ``Lancome'' topped the list as other beauty brands such as ``Estee Lauder'', ``Chanel'', ``Sisley'' and ``Christian Dior'' followed closely behind. In urban duty-free shops or department stores, ``Louis Vuitton'', ``Gucci, Chanel'', ``Hermes'' and ``Coach'' were customers' favorite items.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 6.1 million people went abroad while and 11.6 million visited Korea in 2006, and a total of 19.5 million used the duty free shops that are open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Of the total number of shop users, 52.7 percent were Korean. Of the foreign users, 78 percent were Japanese with Chinese and American following behind by 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Duty free shop industry is said to make profits of around 2.4 trillion won per year.
Especially inside Incheon International Airport's tax haven shops, figures have increased over the last three consecutive years, making it second among worldwide airports for sales. London's Heathrow Airport holds the title for first place.