(Source: Sun Star | By Katlene O. Cacho)
MR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) is eyeing construction of the airport’s new retail zone in June this year.
Estee Marie Patiño-Plunket said that GMCAC is looking at improving the design and locations of retail outlets in the airport, using a travel retail concept that will allow not only international brands but also homegrown brands to showcase their products.
“The airport will have a good mix of retail brands. The retail segment of the airport is promising,” she said.
Under the new concept, domestic and international passengers will both have access to this planned retail enclave.
GMCAC is the private management company of the Mactan Cebu International Airport under a public-private partnership.
Plunket acknowledged that the retail segment in the airport plays a significant role in the airport’s brand image, being firmly tied to “Cebu’s much-envied global reputation as a resort destination.”
She said not only are they going to make the upgraded airport address congestion but also help all its tenants improve retail sales, on top of other objectives like providing quality service and world-class amenities.
Rolling out the concept on travel retail in the province is one of the projects identified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 to implement starting this year, following the success of District 32, a retail concept at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
In a separate interview, DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte said they are planning to push the travel retail concept in the Philippines on the back of the growing tourism and retail industries.
She noted there is a need for DTI to intervene in promoting proper retailing, especially in tourism areas such as in retail strips located in bus, seaport and airport terminals. She also envisions that the project would help link more small and medium retailers to the tourism value chain.
Aside from improving the retail component of the airport GMCAC also announced that taxi boarding bays for white taxis will be transferred next to the Domestic Arrivals area of the airport. “The new white taxi boarding bay is a response to the needs of our passengers who deserve a more convenient way of boarding white taxis. With the creation of this facility, no taxi boarding will be permitted at the Departures level,” said Andrew Acquaah-Harrison, GMCAC chief executive advisor.
