IMAS Drop in
Airport Duty Free Sales To Affect Support of
Social Programs
The Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (IMAS)
says it has begun to feel the effects of the
economic crisis and of the AH1N1 flu virus,
as sales at its duty free stores at the San
Jose and Liberia airports dropping.
The IMAs is an autonomous institution set up
by the country’s government in 1971 which
operates duty-free stores at Juan Santamaría
International airport in San José and in
2007 at the Daniel Oduber international
airport in Liberia, Guanacaste.
The IMAS reports that sales for 2009 are
expected to be ¢10.4 billion colones, of
which ¢4.48 billion in sales have already
been recorded to the end of May.
However, IMAS officials say sales at the
aiport stores have been on the decline and
the economy and flu crisis could have a
serious impact on sales for the rest of the
year.
The lower sales and lower profits affect the
social programs that the IMAS supports.
Programs like "Avancemos" will be get lower
funding from the IMAS as sales continue to
slide down, according to IMAS president,
José Antonio Li.
In addition, the work to complete the Juan
Santamaría terminal will have a negative
effect on sales as some areas of the
terminal will be shut down to permit the
construction work. Areas C, D and E of the
terminal will be affected, an area where
IMAS has three of six stores at the airport
terminal.
The shut down of the three stores is
expected to reduce sales, according to Li.
The IMAS sells liquor, perfumes and beauty
products among other items that in demand
from tourists coming and going through the
San Jose and Liberia airports.
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