Shopping tourism need technology to grow – Mad Money

Use mobile applications, have a tax exemption system for purchases of tourists (tax free) and adhere to new forms of payments: The key idea is to facilitate investment in the city . And if tourists spoken, this investment is made in the form of purchases and consumption

For tourist destinations can get the value of the lion’s share of travelers leave behind -. 217 million per year , according to Deutsche Bank – is necessary to combine shopping technology

Photo: Artur Machado / Global Graphics

This was the conclusion of several experts gathered in Madrid for Fitur, the 2nd conference of the World Tourism Organization, which was held on Friday.

The shopping tourism is very volatilization l, moves each time with “faster” and it is important to monitor trends with “technology applied to purchase”, which is now a “priority,” says the magazine’s director Condé Nast Traveler, Sandra del Rio .

Luciano Ochoa, Director Innova Tax Free , emphasizes the fundamental innovation and “facilitate tourists to invest in the city” through the use of mobile applications, additional tools for increasing sales. At the same time, the tax exemption system ( Tax Free ) is “essential” to ensure “satisfaction and the return of the tourist, since the return of taxes is a right that the tourist requires.”

The shopping tourism is very volatile, moves increasingly to “faster” and it is important to monitor trends with “technology applied to the purchase,” says Director of Condé magazine Nast Traveler, Sandra del Rio

You can also not be left behind adaptation to new payment methods that arise, he said Eva Ruiz Cendon, marketing director Mastercard to Spain and Portugal.

Purchases of tourists moving around EUR 217 billion worldwide. To ensure that collect a share of this amount, the targets invest in strategies that make inseparable shopping visit, as with Germany’s Christmas markets, the boutiques of Paris Champs Elysees, the night markets of Hong Kong or the Grand Bazaar Istanbul

The most visited countries in the world. – France, USA, China, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany, UK, Russia and Malaysia – have come to adopt specific policies to improve the shopping experience for the tourists. In 2014, Paris launched the campaign “Shopping in Paris”, which included a package of 10% discount to tourists in 270 stores over a given period. Spain developed the campaign “I need Spain”, where the city tourism and purchases were promoted together.

In Lisbon bet up on purchases

For now, the Tourism Association of Lisbon (ATL) takes advantage of the promotional campaign “Business Tourism, City Breaks or Cruises” to integrate “always shopping as a distinctive feature of Lisbon, especially in the sensitive markets such motivation, “explains Vítor Costa, general director of ATL.

Photo: Artur Machado / Global Graphics

“The motivation of purchases is an element that gives value to all other tourism products of Lisbon being increasingly, a factor that contributes to the attractiveness of the destination, “said the official.

Every year, especially between May and October, more and more Angolan tourists, Brazilian, Chinese and Russian exploit Avenue stores Freedom, Rua Castilho, Chiado, Baixa and the Royal Prince.

The motivation of purchases is an element that gives value to all other tourism products of Lisbon and, increasingly a factor that contributes to the attractiveness of the destination “

The fastest growing markets are China (+ 82%), the USA (+ 81%) and Mozambique (+ 44%) and purchases are “the second main activity of tourists in the region, following the visit to monuments, attractions and museums,” being an activity carried out for 60.6% of tourists in 2014.

In Porto, shopping allied to the cuisine

El Corte Ingles and the Outlet of Vila do Conde are the two main partners of the Port and North Tourism Association (ATPN) in shopping tourism promotion in the city Invicta. “Next week, we will have a famtrip [the destination presentation trip for travel agents or others] Chinese and have at least two moments of shopping on the agenda,” exemplified Helena Gonçalves, executive director of ATPN.

Photo: Artur Machado / Global Images

“shopping tourism This is a product developed in association with other tourism products, such as food or cultural touring, and we have to focus on increasingly in the Asian markets that are to grow in the region, “he added.

The urban renewal in areas such as Rua das Flores, Cândido dos Reis or Paris Galleries is for responsible, exemplifying the” importance of trade to tourism and vice versa and in keeping with the cosmopolitan image that the Port wants to. “

There are not yet concrete data in the region want to allow the design of a tourist profile and know the value of purchases at the destination, but the ATPN is preparing to launch a Tourism Observatory, in the second half of this year.