Bengaluru: Travel retailer Nuance Group’s recently expanded and refurbished 9,000-sq ft duty-free zone in the international departure terminal area at Kempegowda International Airport after which it hit the seventh year milestone on Friday. Foreign-bound travelers can book a duty-free product from this departure zone at a five per cent discount, and pick it up on their arrival. Online booking option is also available at (www.bengalurudutyfree.in).

“Although shopping by arriving international passengers contribute about 70 per cent of our business, the departure zone has emerged as our showcase,” said Nuance Group Country-head, Anirban Dutta Chowdhury. Its also cheaper than international duty free shops at intentional destinations – A price-comparison chart between Bengaluru and Dubai rates for a range of products was tellingly displayed in the shopping area. The departure duty free has three areas one for liquor, tobacco products, perfumes and confectioneries; another dedicated to technology and gadgets. A third section, designed with original Chettinad pillars from Kalaikudi to mimic a South Indian setting, will house fashion products is getting ready.  Its meant to compete with duty free alternatives abroad, and therefore the plethora of international brands.

Five to ten per cent of the products on sale are local, as they are very attractive to foreigners. This includes local wines and chocolates wrapped in Bengaluru-themed graphics.

Foreigners account for almost 35 per cent of buyers at the international departure duty-free zones since its renovated launch. “Among the leading buyers are travelers from Britain, Sri Lanka and Singapore. They spend a lot of time since they are at leisure after the security checks. We are especially surprised by the turnout at our technology products section,” Chowdhury observed.

Nuance Group had started its operations at KIA in May 2008. It currently has a global presence in 76 countries, spanning airports, cruises, ferries and other travel ports as a retail aggregator.