Thailand's King Power wins bid to continue duty-free monopoly

Land of Smiles misses once-in-a-decade chance to foster competition in growing market

Thai retailer King Power currently runs duty-free shops at five tourist destinations and five airports in the country. © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

May 31, 2019 21:41 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand has failed to bring in serious competition to its duty-free retail sector, as sole operator King Power International Group was awarded another 10 years of its monopoly at Bangkok's main international airport.

State-owned airport company Airports of Thailand on Friday announced that King Power had tendered the unofficial winning bid for the right to operate duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi airport on the outskirts of Bangkok from September 28, 2020 to March 31, 2031.