CHIC Outlet Shopping, a collection of nine high-end, outlet-shopping villages across Europe, has seen phenomenal growth in arrivals from South-east Asia. This is partly due to close partnerships with airlines, travel agents and travel-trade representatives.
Sarah Bartlett, spokesperson for Value Retail, which owns Chic Outlet Shopping villages and also leases out shops to luxury brands, explained: “In Singapore, for instance, we have a deal with Etihad Airways, which offers promotional airfares to travel agents, who will in turn package our shopping villages in their itineraries. We work very closely with the top travel agents in Singapore such as CTC Travel, SA Tours, Chan Brothers and Dynasty Travel.”
She attributed the surge in arrivals from the region to the favourable exchange rate, growing affluence among Asian consumers and positive word-of-mouth.
Chic Outlet Shopping saw a 73 per cent growth in visitors from South-east Asia in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year. The region is now the company’s third largest non-European source market. China maintains top spot, followed by Russia.
Singaporeans registered the largest growth in arrivals to Chic’s outlets – 130 per cent – compared to other South-east Asian destinations. Arrivals from Thailand and Indonesia grew 78 and 65 per cent respectively.
Visits by Asian MICE groups have also been “good”, Bartlett said.
The company’s La Rocca Village in Barcelona welcomed a 200-pax incentive group from China last year, while its La Vallee Village in Paris had “an even bigger group” from Indonesia.
