Sunil Tuli, President, APTRA and Group Chief Executive, King Power Group (Hong Kong).
The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has released further details of its Northeast Asia Forum, with President Sunil Tuli stating the conference will address an “urgent call to action” around the divide between rising travel figures in the region and travel retail spending lagging behind.
The event, taking place from 3-5 December 2025 in Hong Kong and held in collaboration with the Airport Authority Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Airport, will commence on Wednesday 3 December with afternoon networking at the Shangri-La hotel in Kowloon, followed by an evening reception at the nearby Mondrian Hotel.
A full-day’s conference follows on Thursday 4 December at Kowloon Shangri-La, featuring plenary sessions that will include detailed research and consumer insights on the new travel and purchasing priorities of Chinese consumers and other key demographic groups impacting the region.
Additionally, there will be in-depth analysis of the core categories with retailers, brands and other experts sharing their perspectives on the optimal strategic approach to the Northeast Asia region, as travel retail heads towards the second half of the decade.
“The Northeast Asia market is currently marked by stark contrasts. The return of Chinese travellers in impressive numbers, coupled with rising travel figures across the region, signals a robust resurgence in mobility,” said Sunil Tuli, President, APTRA and Group Chief Executive, King Power Group (Hong Kong).
“Yet, in clear contrast, travel retail spending lags behind, stubbornly refusing to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.
“Recognising this divide, APTRA is committed to bringing together influential voices to shed light on the underlying challenges that fuel this widening gap and to devise meaningful strategies to reignite growth. This is an urgent call to action.
“The rapid evolution of consumer behaviour, driven by the relentless influence of social media, through streaming, scrolling, searching and shaping choices about where and how to shop and what to buy, threatens to undermine the allure of travel retail.
“If proactive steps are not taken, we risk seeing this dynamic erode the sector’s appeal well before the decade’s end. The future of travel retail hinges on our ability to understand, adapt and unite behind effective solutions for sustainable growth.”
Post conference networking on the Wednesday comes in the form of an evening reception, also taking place at Kowloon Shangri-La.
The final day, on Friday 5 December, will see delegates joining a networking boat excursion including lunch on the picturesque Po Toi Island.
“We are delighted to partner with APTRA in hosting the Northeast Asia Forum,” said Alby Tsang, Director of Retail and Property Development at Hong Kong International Airport.
“At Hong Kong International Airport, we are committed to innovating concepts and experiences to meet the evolving expectations of global passengers.
“The Forum provides an invaluable platform for industry leaders to discuss retail innovation, passenger engagement, and sector challenges brought by evolving market conditions.
“We look forward to engaging with other industry participants to share perspectives on travel retail’s future development.”
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