21:15, 12-Feb-2018
Heathrow Duty-Free Retailer: Discriminatory policies against Chinese shoppers ignite backlash
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A UK-based travel retailer has sent out an official statement in response to claims of unfair treatment of Chinese travelers at one of its shops in London's Heathrow Airport.
In the statement, World Duty-Free, the largest travel retailer in the UK, claims that the company has investigated the matter and made corrections. The controversy came to light through a firsthand account on China's largest social media site Weibo.
It revolves around allegations that a World Duty-Free shop at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 had raised the minimum purchase price for Chinese travelers to enjoy discounts. The post on Weibo has since been widely shared and commented on by Chinese netizens.
According to the World Tourism Organization, China now accounts for 21% of international tourism spending.