'Allow to buy four litres liquor in duty free shops'

In its proposal for Budget 2020-21, the Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has said that sizable business at duty-free operations in the South East Asia/Middle East region is through tourists that originate in India.

New Delhi:Seeking to bring liquor allowance at par with countries like Thailand, Singapore, and Dubai, private airport operators have proposed to double its limit to four liters per person for purchase from a duty-free shop at Indian airports.

In its proposal for Budget 2020-21, the Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has said that sizable business at duty-free operations in the South East Asia/Middle East region is through tourists that originate in India.

Further, Indian passengers purchase duty-free goods outside India depriving opportunity to Indian duty-free business.

"Liquor allowance given in India is not at par with liquor allowance in neighboring countries/Asia Pacific countries," the airport's body has written to the government ahead of Budget.

The APAO claimed that the benefit of enhanced revenue will help airports bring down cost thereby passing the benefit of reduced cost to passengers.

Rajan Mehra, CEO of Club One Air and former India head of Qatar Airways said that the demand by airport firms has a lot of merits.

"As it is liquor is available outside. It's only that it's a little more expensive and there is no guarantee of its genuinity. Whereas at duty-free shops, consumers will be paying a little lower price and also get genuine products. So, I think it (higher liquor quota) should be looked at by the government," Mehra said.

An airport executive noted that the move will enhance the revenue of the Indian airports.

"The whole idea is that the sales of Indian duty-free shops increase," he said.