Shopping centers and department stores throughout Kyushu have beefed up services targeting foreign visitors in preparation for Chinese and Korean tourists expected to spend their Lunar New Year holidays on the island. This year, Fukuoka-based Iwataya-Mitsukoshi’s pamphlet for its spring lineup of new cosmetics featured the “Tax Free” logo for the first time. Cosmetics were added to the list of approved duty free goods last October and have proven extremely popular with foreign tourists. The store has also adjusted its floor maps to clearly indicate displays that are popular with foreign tourists and has affixed “Made in Japan” stickers on several product shelves. In Saga, 40 of the 150 shops in the Tosu Premium Outlets have prepared special perks for foreign visitors, and Marinoa City (Nishi Ward, Fukuoka) will set up a special counter to assist foreign visitors between Feb. 17 and 24. Aeon Kyushu’s duty free service was limited to 9 shops in 6 prefectures located near airports and ports, but it expanded the service to all 53 of its outlets on Feb. 1. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 2/11
