Middle Eastern visitors to Europe’s Chic Outlet Shopping Village on the rise

By Charmaine Fernz, 19 December 2012, Wednesday 12:52 AM - TravelDailyMedia.com

Value Retail, developer and operator of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Europe recently announced that sales from Middle Eastern visitors represent the number two non-European nationality across the Villages.

Tax refunded sales generated by visitors from the Middle East to grew by 52% in the third quarter of this year with China, the Middle East and Russia representing the three largest markets for the Collection respectively.

Total tax refunded sales generated by non-EU visitors to the Collection grew by 46% compared to the same period last year. Average tax refund spends from Middle Eastern visitors reaching €285.

Ingolstadt Village, strategically located between Munich and Nuremberg, experienced an increased of 133% in tax refunded sales made by Middle Eastern visitors in quarter three of this year. The GCC countries continue to represent one of the top twenty source markets in the German tourism industry.

“In the first three quarters of 2012 we saw strong growth in tax refunded sales generated by visitors from the Middle East. In particular, tax refunded sales generated by visitors from Kuwait were up by 63%, with guests from Qatar generating a 76% increase, compared to 2011. Latest sales data point to a trend in increasingly popularity of the two Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Germany – Ingolstadt Village and Wertheim Village,” said Ian Stazicker, head of tourism, Value Retail PLC.

Tax refunded sales generated by all non-EU visitors to the Collection of nine Villages achieved a 46% increase in like-for-like sales growth compared to the same period last year, with an average spend of €285.