Research conducted by Finnish airport operator Finavia has found that passengers from China are the biggest spenders at Helsinki Airport, followed by travelers from Russia and South Korea.
Petra Merikanto, customer insight manager at Finavia, said, “The influx of Chinese tourists flying via Helsinki Airport into Finland has been clearly visible, and shopping is one of their main priorities, especially duty-free shopping.”
In 2015, more than 293,000 Chinese passengers spent €16.6m (US$18.7m) at Helsinki Airport. According to the report, some of the most popular products for Chinese tourists are chocolate, cosmetics and fragrances. The same study reveals that the feeling of having made a good deal is important to their shopping experience.
Luxury products are expensive in China, and tourist-shoppers look to avoid the high import duties at home that can often push the price of goods to twice the amount charged in Europe. They are likewise more confident that the items they purchase are authentic when shopping overseas.
