Global travel boosts luxury consumption, say Italian professionals

Italian professionals said that international tourism is increasing luxury consumption at a forum in Beijing early this week as the National Chamber of Italian Fashion was in the Chinese capital to promote Milan Fashion Week.

Mario Boselli, the honorary president of National Chamber of Italian Fashion, said that as developing countries were seeing an increase in population, the global tourist industry was expanding.

"The biggest boost for international tourism is coming from Asia, especially China," said Maximilano Nicolelli, the former strategy director of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, who also sees international travel boosting the luxury industry.

"And many companies have realized this so they are rearranging their sales to meet consumers' needs."

"Airports are popular spots for distribution," Nicolelli said.

"They used to be messy places where people lay down on the floors because there wasn't much entertainment and shopping."

Nicolelli said that airports have now set up recreational facilities and shopping.

"This is a huge change that's closely related to tourism and the rise of luxury shops in airports."

And Nicolelli said that airport stores must tempt consumers with competitive prices, and human resources that offer consumers efficient communication and an enjoyable shopping experience.

"For example, the Chinese travel to Dubai a lot, and the fitting rooms there are bigger than traditional ones because the Chinese often shop with friends and two people often share a fitting room."