Kildare Village, a renowned designer outlet located near Dublin, is strategically positioning itself to appeal to a larger number of Chinese tourists through a new partnership with major Asian airlines. Owned by Value Retail, Kildare Village has teamed up with Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific, in response to the recent launch of direct flights between China and Ireland.
With Hainan offering four weekly flights between Dublin and Beijing, and Cathay Pacific providing four weekly non-stop flights between Dublin and Hong Kong, the collaboration is well-timed to take advantage of the projected increase in Chinese tourist arrivals in Ireland. Tourism Ireland reports forecast a rise from 70,000 Chinese visitors in 2017 to 175,000 by 2025.
Chinese tourists are a coveted demographic for Value Retail’s European villages, including Kildare Village, where they can indulge in purchasing luxury goods at discounted rates. In fact, Chinese visitors accounted for approximately 60% of tax-free sales at Kildare Village last year.
To further attract Chinese consumers, Kildare Village is embarking on a €50m expansion project that will introduce 29 new shops and two restaurants. Chris Harris, a director at Value Retail, stresses the importance of broadening the retail offerings to entice more Chinese and international visitors. By expanding its retail footprint, Kildare Village aims to rival other European outlets and position itself as the go-to shopping destination for tourists.
The ultimate goal is to emulate the success of Bicester Village near London, a widely popular designer outlet that has seen a surge in Chinese shoppers. Bicester Village has even surpassed Buckingham Palace in drawing visitors from China. Through these strategic initiatives, Kildare Village aims to tap into the burgeoning Chinese tourism market and solidify its status as a premier shopping destination in Europe.
For more information on Kildare Village and its offerings, visit their official website here.
To learn more about the expansion plans and retail options at Kildare Village, click on this link here.
