Expecting multi-million-dollar annual sales, Daniel Oduber International Airport will inaugurate its first duty free store today.
According to the Institute for Social Advancement (IMAS), the entity charged by law with operating shops in the country's two international airports, profits from the duty free stores go towards financing different social programs aimed at combating poverty around the country.
The construction of Daniel Oduber's 100-square-meter duty free shop amounted to more than $300,000, which was funded by private businesses.
Daniel Oduber International Airport
The stores, say IMAS officials, sell "premium" products (tax-exempt) with well-known national and international brands, including coffee, liquor, tobacco, fine perfumes, watches, sunglasses, jewelry, and chocolate.
According to IMAS, Juan Santamarķa's stores brought in about eight billion colones (about $14.5 million) for the social institution last year.
Statistics show that Daniel Oduber records about 400,000 tourists arriving through its gates annually. Further, tourism officials note, these tourists have been shown to have a higher buying power over those arriving into Juan Santamarķa International Airport.
