ID :
176450
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 13:45
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/176450
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Louis Vuitton to open airport duty-free shop in S. Korea as planned
SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- With a legal dispute between South Korean retailers resolved, French luxury brand Louis Vuitton will open its first duty-free shop at a major South Korean airport this year as scheduled, officials said Tuesday.
According to Incheon International Airport Corp., the Shilla Duty Free will open a Louis Vuitton boutique at the airport, west of Seoul, in September. Officials say the shop will be Louis Vuitton's first duty-free location at any airport in the world.
Shilla's plan appeared to hit a snag in January, when rival retailer Lotte Duty Free filed for a court injunction on the deal between the airport and Shilla. Lotte argued that Shilla had received some preferential treatment in inking the deal, but its case was rejected by Incheon District Court.
Lotte later appealed at the Seoul High Court but withdrew its case on Monday, sources said.
Airport officials expect the Louis Vuitton shop, scheduled to open in September, to help draw more tourists to the nation's largest international gateway.
"Bringing Louis Vuitton aboard should help us host 3 million Chinese tourists, a government target, and also bring 10 million transit passengers," an official at the airport said. "In addition, sales at our duty-free shops could rise from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world."
Shilla and Lotte both operate duty-free shops at the airport, and their lineups include other luxury brands such as Cartier, Chanel, Ferragamo and Prada.
According to Incheon International Airport Corp., the Shilla Duty Free will open a Louis Vuitton boutique at the airport, west of Seoul, in September. Officials say the shop will be Louis Vuitton's first duty-free location at any airport in the world.
Shilla's plan appeared to hit a snag in January, when rival retailer Lotte Duty Free filed for a court injunction on the deal between the airport and Shilla. Lotte argued that Shilla had received some preferential treatment in inking the deal, but its case was rejected by Incheon District Court.
Lotte later appealed at the Seoul High Court but withdrew its case on Monday, sources said.
Airport officials expect the Louis Vuitton shop, scheduled to open in September, to help draw more tourists to the nation's largest international gateway.
"Bringing Louis Vuitton aboard should help us host 3 million Chinese tourists, a government target, and also bring 10 million transit passengers," an official at the airport said. "In addition, sales at our duty-free shops could rise from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world."
Shilla and Lotte both operate duty-free shops at the airport, and their lineups include other luxury brands such as Cartier, Chanel, Ferragamo and Prada.
