26
March Report 2019 intelligence
March Report2019
intelligence
Contents
Tax Free TrendsSummary 03
Tax Free Sales Trends 05
Vietnamese Shoppers 06
Tax Free Sales by Destination and Source 07
Top 5 Visitor Nations per Destination Country 09
Currency Trends 11
Arrivals ForecastEurope Overview 13
France 14
United Kingdom 15
Italy 16
Spain 17
Germany 18
Austria 19
Finland 20
Portugal 21
Ireland 22
Czech Republic 23
Planet International Calendar 24
Planet Intelligence | 2March Report 2019
Top 5 Source Markets
Top 5 Destination MarketsTax Free
Sales Turnover
Tax Free Sales Turnover
Vouchers/ Transaction
Vouchers/ Transaction
Avg. Transaction Values (ATV)
Avg. Transaction Values (ATV)
Arrival Numbers
Arrival Numbers
+13%
+2%
+1%
-10%
-11%
-8%
+32%
+26%
-8%
+19%
France
Italy
United Kingdom
Spain
Germany
China
USA
Taiwan
Russia
South Korea
+6%
+2%
-6%
+20%
-20%
-23%
+19%
+2%
-10%
+19%
+6%
0%
+8%
-25%
+12%
+19%
+10%
+24%
+2%
0%
-5%
+2%
0%
+4%
+7%
+13%
+8%
+17%
-4%
-7%
Shopping & Arrivals Growth Summary - March 2019
+1%Total Vouchers
+4%Total Sales
+4%Total ATV
+2%Total Arrivals
Planet Intelligence | 3March Report 2019
Shopping & Arrivals Growth Summary - YTD
Top 5 Source Markets
Top 5 Destination MarketsTax Free
Sales Turnover
Tax Free Sales Turnover
Vouchers/ Transaction
Vouchers/ Transaction
Avg. Transaction Values (ATV)
Avg. Transaction Values (ATV)
Arrival Numbers
Arrival Numbers
+6%
-1%
+4%
-1%
-7%
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Germany
China
USA
Russia
Taiwan
South Korea
-1%
-6%
+4%
+23%
-13%
+6%
+6%
0%
-20%
+6%
-5%
+1%
+1%
+5%
+3%
0%Total Vouchers
+2%Total Sales
+2%Total ATV
+1%Total Arrivals
+1%
+27%
-17%
+36%
+14%
-5%
+13%
-14%
+10%
+14%
+6%
+13%
-3%
+24%
0%
+10%
+8%
-7%
+20%
+1%
Planet Intelligence | 4March Report 2019
OverviewMarch represented yet another positive month for Europe’s retailers, with Tax Free sales to international shoppers increasing by 4% compared with the same month a year ago. This marks the sixth consecutive month of growth and a 2-percentage-point growth rate compared with February.
Encouragingly, the current Tax Free landscape is in a much healthier state compared with this time last year, which witnessed an 8% decline in Tax Free sales.
France and Italy were this month’s highest performing countries, growing 13% and 2% respectively. French retailers will be glad to see positive Tax Free growth after ongoing political unrest driven by the Gilets Jaunes protests negatively impacting retail sales in recent months.
Not every country has benefited from an increase in international shopper activity. Spain suffered a 10% decline in Tax Free sales, largely driven by a fall in average transaction value (ATV), which fell by 25% in March. This follows a government-mandated reduction in the minimum Tax Free purchase threshold last year. Tax Free sales in Germany also fell by 11%, as a result of declines in Chinese and Taiwanese spending after February’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Tax Free Shopping Sales Trends – March 2019
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2018 2019Y/Y Sales Growth
China’s VAT cuts result in luxury brand price reductionsAs of April 1st, the Chinese Government reduced its value-added tax (VAT) rate, in an attempt to stimulate a slowing economy. As a result, a number of luxury brands have already reduced their prices.
Europe has been hailed by many as the “shopping outlet of the world”, due to the continent’s lower cost of luxury goods relative to many other countries. However, with the prices of luxury goods decreasing in China – the world’s number one Tax Free shopping nation - some retailers may fear this could deter Chinese shoppers from travelling abroad in the search for cheaper goods.
In a further effort to spark domestic consumption, Chinese authorities have created a new four-day holiday in May, which may result in increased international travel.
However, not everyone is pessimistic about the new regulations. In January, data from investment bank UBS found that product prices in China maintained a significant premium of 30% compared with Europe’s prices – before any Tax Free saving is factored in.
In addition, the euro’s weakness as a result of the downward pressure on the German and Italian economies has also likely had an impact on price differentials.
March saw a slight decrease in Tax Free sales to Chinese shoppers across Europe, but the 8% decline can largely be attributed to Chinese New Year falling earlier in 2019 than last year.
1. www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/apple-louis-vuitton-gucci-luxury-brands-drop-china-prices-as-vat-cuts-take-effect
March Report 2019
Vietnamese shoppers’ spending power goes from strength to strength
Vietnamese nationals are playing an increasingly important role in driving global Tax Free sales. Although European retailers saw a 6% decline in purchases by Vietnamese shoppers in 2018, the ATV for Vietnamese shoppers has continued to grow. The country’s average spend for March came in at a massive €1,036, and continues to rank higher than the traditional big-spending nations of the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan and China.
In fact, the ATV for Vietnamese shoppers has grown by 14% year-on-year for the past two years. As a result, Vietnamese shoppers have moved from the 27th highest-ranking country in terms of ATV in 2017, to 17th in 2018.
The Planet Shopper Index, which uses Tax Free purchasing data and key economic measures including inflation, GDP growth and currency movement, tracks the spending power of the 25 most lucrative international source markets. The latest index saw Vietnam climb two places to 8th overall1.
This rise in Vietnamese spending power seems to correlate with the expansion of the country’s middle class. According to Boston Consulting Group, the number of middle class citizens is expected to increase from 20 million in 2015 to 33 million in 2020, representing a 65% increase.
This socioeconomic boom is being driven by the growth of the upper middle class, which is expected to double in size from 5 million to 10 million within the same period2. The average upper-middle-class Vietnamese spends 87% more on international travel per year than the average middle-class citizen.
Despite this growth, Vietnam’s GDP per capita is still low, ranking 132nd out of the 184 countries measured by the World Bank in 2017, highlighting the substantial wealth gap throughout the nation. However, GDP per capita in the emerging manufacturing powerhouse grew by an astounding 160%3 across the last ten years of available data, with its latest quarterly growth measuring 6.9% year on year4.
Top 25 Countries - ATV and SiS mix % 2018
€1200
30%
35%
€1000
25%
€40010%
€800
20%
€200 5%
€60015%
€0 0%
2018 ATV 2018 SiS mix
China
31%
9%
6% 4% 4%
3%
2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
1%
2%
1%
2%
1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4 €81
4
€81
4
€81
4 €81
4
€81
4 €81
4
€81
4 €81
4 €81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4
€81
4 €81
4
€81
4 €81
4
€81
4
USA
Russia
Taiwan
Hong Kong
South Kore
a
Singapore
UAE
Thailand
Kuwait
Malaysia
Saudi Ara
bia
Switzerla
nd
JapanIsra
el
Qatar
Indonesia
Lebanon
Ukrain
eBra
zil
Morocco
India
Australia
Egypt
Canada
Vietnam
Vietnam - Quarterly Year-on-Year GDP growth
8%
10%
6%
2%
4%
0%
7.0%
5.5%
5.8%
6.6%
6.7%6.3% 7.5%
7.7%
7.5%
6.7%
6.9%
6.9%
Jan 16
Jan 17Jul 16
Jul 17
Jan 18
Oct 18
Apr 16
Apr 17
Oct 16
Oct 17
Jul 18
Apr 18
Jan 19
5.1%
1. www.planetpayment.com/media/4306/planet-shopper-index_issue2_uk.pdf
2. www.bcg.com/publications/2016/globalization-growth-capitalizing-asias-booming-upper-middle-class.aspx
3. data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=VN
4. en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/7309602-robust-production-fueling-economic-growth.html
[Chart] https://tradingeconomics.com/vietnam/gdp-growth
Planet Intelligence | 6March Report 2019
Sales Performance - March 2019By Destination By Source Market
+13.1%
+1.6%
+0.8%
-9.5%
-10.9%
+0.3%
+26.6%
-6.1%
-2.6%
+13.2%
-8.3%
+31.8%
+26.4%
-7.9%
+18.8%
-3.0%
+0.2%
+20.4%
+25.3%
+25.1%
FRA
ITA
GBR
ESP
DEU
AUT
PRT
CZE
CHE
IRL
CHN
USA
TWN
RUS
KOR
HKG
THA
KWT
JPN
UAE
Planet Intelligence | 7March Report 2019
Sales Performance - YTDBy Destination By Source Market
FRA
GBR
ITA
ESP
DEU
AUT
PRT
CZE
IRL
CHE
CHN
USA
RUS
TWN
KOR
HKG
THA
KWT
JAP
UAE
+5.7%
-0.5%
+4.2%
-1.5%
-7.4%
+3.9%
+9.4%
-1.9%
+8.5%
-14.1%
+1.2%
+26.8%
-16.7%
+36.3%
+13.9%
+1.2%
-0.6%
+10.0%
+21.4%
+4.1%
Planet Intelligence | 8March Report 2019
Top 5 Visitor Nations per Destination Country – March 2019
CHINA 39% € 1,971 +17%USA 9% € 1,416 +33%TAIWAN 8% € 2,677 +53%SOUTH KOREA 5% € 700 +4%HONG KONG 3% € 2,869 -17%
CHINA 23% € 669 -23%TAIWAN 11% € 619 +61%RUSSIA 11% € 442 -17%SWITZERLAND 10% € 483 +11%UKRAINE 6% € 461 +27%
CHINA 22% € 1,026 -33%RUSSIA 11% € 720 -8%USA 8% € 989 +26%SOUTH KOREA 8% € 763 +51%TAIWAN 7% € 1,030 +17%
CHINA 29% € 2,561 -6%BRAZIL 22% € 455 +48%ANGOLA 16% € 418 +33%USA 5% € 1,746 +616%UAE 4% € 9,961 +349%
CHINA 17% € 443 -29%KUWAIT 9% € 368 +20%USA 8% € 513 +31%UAE 6% € 732 +49%HONG KONG 5% € 479 -13%
TAIWAN 30% € 239 +12%CHINA 24% € 312 -22%RUSSIA 21% € 270 -12%SOUTH KOREA 4% € 203 -22%UKRAINE 3% € 384 +18%
CHINA 29% € 618 -34%USA 7% € 663 +23%RUSSIA 6% € 341 -18%SOUTH KOREA 5% € 324 +69%ARGENTINA 4% € 211 -18%
CHINA 42% € 910 -17%RUSSIA 9% € 630 -20%THAILAND 6% € 1,030 +20%TAIWAN 4% € 503 -29%HONG KONG 3% € 2,020 +69%
CHINA 38% € 449 -15%USA 33% € 144 +35%CANADA 3% € 151 +16%COSTA RICA 2% € 26,908 +53,541%HONG KONG 2% € 555 +90%
Share ShareTop 5 Top 5ATV ATVY/Y Sales Y/Y Sales
FRA
ITA
GBR
ESP
DEU
AUT
PRT
CZE
CHE
IRL
CHINA 21% € 1,278 -26%RUSSIA 9% € 1,633 -7%THAILAND 8% € 1,438 +88%USA 6% € 1,442 +28%KUWAIT 5% € 2,347 +161%
Planet Intelligence | 9March Report 2019
Top 5 Visitor Nations per Destination Country – YTD
CHINA 37% € 1,866 +9%USA 8% € 1,348 +29%TAIWAN 8% € 2,580 +63%SOUTH KOREA 5% € 680 +1%HONG KONG 3% € 2,591 -24%
CHINA 23% € 677 +11%RUSSIA 13% € 421 -26%TAIWAN 9% € 652 +107%SWITZERLAND 9% € 430 -9%UKRAINE 6% € 455 +2%
CHINA 23% € 423 -8%KUWAIT 8% € 344 +11%USA 7% € 537 +29%UAE 6% € 617 +10%HONG KONG 5% € 465 +2%
CHINA 30% € 2,203 +8%BRAZIL 22% € 432 -6%ANGOLA 19% € 455 +21%USA 5% € 1,848 +592%HONG KONG 3% € 10,449 -14%
CHINA 26% € 1,032 -13%RUSSIA 12% € 685 -10%USA 7% € 1,021 +22%SOUTH KOREA 6% € 723 +44%TAIWAN 6% € 1,119 +21%
TAIWAN 25% € 234 +26%CHINA 23% € 299 +17%RUSSIA 23% € 289 -28%SOUTH KOREA 4% € 189 -31%UKRAINE 3% € 385 -5%
CHINA 31% € 629 -3%RUSSIA 7% € 360 -17%USA 6% € 629 +18%SOUTH KOREA 6% € 308 +69%MOROCCO 4% € 264 -10%
CHINA 42% € 448 -7%USA 24% € 175 +26%UAE 3% € 481 +84%MALAYSIA 3% € 356 -9%AUSTRALIA 3% € 180 -5%
CHINA 38% € 834 -8%RUSSIA 10% € 490 -21%THAILAND 5% € 1,069 +18%TAIWAN 4% € 447 -13%SWITZERLAND 3% € 370 -7%
CHINA 21% € 1,348 -26%RUSSIA 9% € 1,330 -27%UAE 8% € 2,932 +6%USA 6% € 1,482 +3%THAILAND 6% € 1,347 +58%
Share ShareTop 5 Top 5ATV ATVY/Y Sales Y/Y Sales
FRA
GBR
ITA
ESP
DEU
AUT
PRT
CZE
IRL
CHE
Planet Intelligence | 10March Report 2019
Currency vs Euro & GBP: Top Source Markets Currency movements: Last 52 Weeks
8.2
8.1
8.0
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.4
7.3
9.2
9.1
9.0
8.9
8.8
8.7
8.6
8.5
8.4
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
1.26
1.24
1.22
1.20
1.18
1.16
1.14
1.12
1.45
1.40
1.35
1.30
1.25
1.20
9.8
9.6
9.4
9.2
9.0
8.8
8.6
CNY > EUR CNY > GBPRUB > EUR
USD > EUR USD > GBPHKD > EUR
Planet Intelligence | 11March Report 2019
In partnership with
Know tomorrow’s travellers
Arrivals Forecast
Planet Intelligence | 12March Report 2019
Europe OverviewDestination Market InsightsIn the second quarter of 2019, Europe can expect a 3% increase in arrivals of non-EU visitors. The countries most likely to welcome more tourists are Portugal and Austria, with growth forecasts of 7% and 6%, respectively.
The number of tourists expected to visit Finland is predicted to decline by almost 2%, while France is expected to suffer a 1% decline in arrivals. However, this is a vast improvement on the 5% decline France experienced in the last quarter, which can largely be attributed to the ongoing Gilets Jaunes protests.
Source Market InsightsThe second quarter of the year will see significant increases in arrivals from Asian markets, with visitor numbers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan set to increase by 16%, 15% and 13% respectively.
Public holidays over the next three months are likely to be a large driver encouraging international travel. Taiwanese nationals are due to celebrate Children’s Day, Labour Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, while Japanese nationals will be celebrating a host of national holidays, cumulatively known as Golden Week in April and May.
Chinese tourist arrivals are also predicted to increase by 5%, as a result of the extended May holiday in China as well the Dragon boat festival on 7th June. Retailers can expect an increase in arrivals of 15% and 4% in May and June, respectively.
Know tomorrow’s travellersPlanet Intelligence | 13
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
+0.7% +4.9%
+0.2% +2.9%
+4.9% -1.0% +4.5% +2.8%
+2.5% 0.0%
+4.1% +6.0%
+1.2% -1.8%
+0.8% +1.7% +5.9% +7.0%+6.9% +3.8%
+3.0% +2.7%
ITA DEU
FRA
ESP
GBRTotal
PRT
FIN
CZE
AUT
IRL
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - France
Planet Intelligence | 14Know tomorrow’s travellersKnow tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
+0.5% -16.0%
+12.8% -5.7%+19.6% +1.6%
+12.2% -0.1%
+22.9% +12.0%+24.6% -12.6%
+10.0% +7.9%
+14.7% +8.5%
-2.3% -19.2%
+13.9% +9.7%
+9.3% +4.3%
+5.2% +5.8%
+13.0% +1.4%
+4.4% -8.8%
-1.3% -7.5%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - UK
Planet Intelligence | 15Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-9.6% -7.9%
+8.6% +5.9%+16.3% +16.0%
-1.9% +16.3%
-0.7% +2.4%-1.4% +4.6%
-11.8% +5.9%
-3.3% -0.8%
-12.8% -7.6%
-1.9% +22.8%
-4.2% +16.8%
-0.2% +8.5%
+7.9% +15.6%
-6.0% +17.5%
-8.0% +6.4%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Italy
Planet Intelligence | 16Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-12.5% +9.0%
+17.0% -9.7%+16.6% -1.0%
+6.3% +4.6%
+27.0% +9.9%+0.5% -16.2%
+7.0% +14.6%
-3.8% +9.1%
+4.0% -1.2%
+6.0% +11.5%
+1.0% +4.2%
+11.0% +8.2%
+20.2% +6.1%
+16.3% -2.5%
-14.3% -0.4%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Spain
Planet Intelligence | 17Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU
BRA
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-10.3% +4.1%
+17.5% -5.1%+18.1% -14.0%
-6.7% +15.7%
+6.1% +9.4%+3.4% -10.4%
-3.4% +33.7%
-28.4% +21.9%
-1.7% -3.7%
-9.6% +32.3%
+23.0% -5.9%
-2.9% +5.9%
+4.9% +6.3%
-20.2% +8.7%
-7.2% +2.5%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Germany
Planet Intelligence | 18Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-5.4% +1.5%
+6.2% -5.7%+29.0% +17.4%
+3.2% -0.2%
+7.9% +7.2%+10.2% -8.7%
-2.5% +20.2%
-2.2% -8.9%
-6.0% -0.9%
+0.6% +8.0%
+0.8% +23.0%
+1.0% +7.2%
+3.8% +9.0%
+13.9% +6.8%
-10.6% -9.0%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Austria
Planet Intelligence | 19Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-7.1% -7.7%
+2.6% -5.8%+30.0% +28.8%
+16.1% +20.8%
+178.0% +3.8%+3.0% -14.5%
-0.3% +23.6%
-1.7% +9.8%
+3.7% +6.1%
+12.0% +7.8%
+8.0% +67.4%
+3.9% +8.5%
-18.1% +6.2%
-3.2% +2.8%
-13.6% -2.0%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Finland
Planet Intelligence | 20Know tomorrow’s travellers
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
-12.7% +1.1%
+8.6% -2.5%-10.0% -5.3%
-14.8% -3.3%
-0.1% +15.7%-30.4% +9.0%
+13.0% +15.0%
-9.2% -34.5%
+12.1% -19.0%
+1.9% +5.8%
-3.2% +5.4%
+7.4% +9.1%
+1.3% -5.1%
+9.1% -32.2%
-8.8% -11.5%
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Portugal
Planet Intelligence | 21Know tomorrow’s travellers
-10.7% -7.5%
+21.1% -6.7%+2.0% +1.6%
-12.8% +6.5%
+30.6% +19.1%-12.0% -6.9%
+1.1% +29.8%
+9.8% +30.0%
-4.6% +19.0%
+10.0% +7.1%
+136.9% -31.6%
+6.3% +19.7%
+9.0% +3.6%
+16.3% -9.3%
+6.5% -4.8%
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Ireland
Planet Intelligence | 22Know tomorrow’s travellers
-4.0% +18.8%
+21.3% +8.1%+20.8% -11.9%
+1.7% -8.8%
+23.8% -8.0%+6.1% -9.8%
-11.3% +34.2%
-20.4% -3.2%
+17.3% -21.3%
-14.8% -1.4%
-28.1% +23.9%
+1.4% +3.2%
+20.6% +8.1%
-9.1% -21.5%
-6.6% -0.3%
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
3 Month Arrivals Outlook - Czech Rep.
Planet Intelligence | 23Know tomorrow’s travellers
-12.7% +3.8%
+26.3% -4.8%+32.6% -15.4%
+4.2% +3.2%
-0.8% -8.6%+97.3% -35.6%
-2.2% +15.1%
+46.0% -45.2%
+4.1% -12.6%
+8.0% +12.7%
-26.6% +14.4%
+14.7% +10.9%
+1.1% -11.8%
+31.0% -2.5%
-24.0% +15.1%
USA
KUW
SAU UAE THA
CHN
QAT IND
RUS
MYS
TWN
KOR
JPN
HNG
BRA
APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19
Normal traffic Medium traffic High traffic
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Brazil
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Middle East
Russia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
USA
Planet International Calendar
Planning for international shoppers throughout the year
The following heat map has been designed in order to show the important travelling times of key Tax Free shopping nations. Used in conjunction with the major international calendar dates that are provided on the following page, you will be able to plan for the major international shopping periods throughout 2019.
Key Tax Free shopping months include July, which is the busiest Tax Free shopping month of the year, coinciding with summer holidays, as well as US Independence Day. October is also a major month for international shoppers, which sees a sharp increase in tourists seeking to enjoy Chinese National Golden week. August also sees a significant amount of spend, as many Middle Eastern inhabitants travel in order to celebrate the Eid al-Adha Festival.
Planet Intelligence | 24March Report 2019
July4 Independence Day (USA)4 Rath Yatra (Hindu)7 Star Festival (JPN)14 Republic Day (IRQ)15 Sea Day (JPN)16 Asalha Bucha (THA)17 Buddhist Lent Day17 Constitution Day (KOR)22 Sarawak Independence Day (MYS)28 King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday
(THA)
August7 Chinese Valentine’s Day11-15 Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji/
Bakr Id/Feast of sacrifice) (Islam)11-12 Mountain Day (JPN)12 The Queen’s Birthday (THA)15 Spirit Festival (CHN/HKG/TWN)15 Ghost Festival (JPN)15 Independence Day (IND)15 Raksha Bandhan
(Hindu/Sikh/Jain)17 Navroze (Parsi New Year) (IND)24 Janmashtami (Hindu)31 Merdeka Day
Independence Day (MYS)
September1 Day of Knowledge (RUS)1 Muharram / Al-Hijra
(Islamic New Year) 2 Labour Day (USA)2 Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka
Chaturthi (Hindu)3 Armed Forces Day (TWN)7 Independence Day (BRA)9 The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s
Birthday (MYS)10 Muharram/Ashura (Islam)11 Onam (Hindu)13 Mid-Autumn Festival
(CHN/HKG/TWN)14 Day after Mid-Autumn Festival16 Malaysia Day16 Respect for the Aged Day (JPN)23 Autumn Equinox
October1 Armed Forces Day (KOR)1-7 National Day and Golden Week
holiday (CHN)2 Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (IND)3 Iraqi Independence Day3 National Foundation Day (KOR)5 Maha Saptami (IND)6 Maha Ashtami (IND)7 Maha Navami (IND)7 Double Ninth Festival (CHN)7 Dussehra (Hindu)9 Hangeul Proclamation Day (KOR)10 National Day/Double Tenth Day
(TWN)12 Our Lady Aparecida/
Children’s Day (BRA)13 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (IND)14 Columbus Day (USA)17 Karva Chauth (Hindu)23 Chulalongkorn Day (THA)24 Birthday of Sultan of Pahang (MYS)25 Taiwan’s Retrocession Day27 Naraka Chaturdashi (Hindu)27 Diwali/Deepavali
(Hindu/Sikh/Jain/Buddhist)28 Govardhan Puja (IND)29 Bhai Dooj (Hindu)31 Halloween (USA)
November2 Chhath Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/
Surya Sashthi) (IND)2 All Souls’ Day (BRA)3-4 Culture Day (JPN)4 Unity Day (RUS)9-10 Mawlid (Mouloud /The Prophet
Muhammad’s Birthday) (Islam)11 Double 11th Festival (CHN)11-12 Birthday of the Sultan of
Kelantan (MYS)12 Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh)15 7-5-3 Day (JPN)15 Republic Proclamation Day (BRA)20 Black Consciousness Day (BRA)20 Children's Day (UAE)23 Labour Thanksgiving Day (JPN)24 Guru Tegh Bahadur’s
Martyrdom Day (Sikh)28 Thanksgiving Day (USA)29 Black Friday (USA)30 Commemoration Day (UAE)
December2 National Day (UAE)3 National Day Holiday (UAE)18 National Day (QAT)24 Christmas Eve25 Christmas Day26 Boxing Day31 New Year ’s Eve
January1 New Year ’s Day2 New Year ’s weekend 2-3 Jan Bank Holiday (JPN)2-8 New Year Holiday Week (RUS)6 Iraq Army Day (IRQ)7 Orthodox Christmas Day (RUS)13 Guru Govind Singh Jayanti (IND)13 Lohri (IND)14 Makar Sankranti (IND) 14 Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan
Besar (MYS)14 Coming of Age Day (JPN)15 Pongal (IND)21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (USA)21 Thaipusam (MYS)26 Republic Day (IND)
February1 Federal Territory Day (MYS)4 Chinese New Year ’s Eve (CHN)4 Farmer’s Day (TWN)4 Seollal Holiday (KOR)5 Chinese New Year5-6 Seollal (KOR)6-10 New Year Golden Week (CHN)10 Vasant Panchami (IND)11 National Foundation Day (JPN) 12 National Sports Day (QAT)14 Valentine’s Day18 Presidents’ Day (USA)19 Lantern Festival (CHN)19 Shivaji Jayanti (IND)19 Guru Ravidas Jayanti (IND) 19 Makha Bucha (THA)23 Defender of the Fatherland
Day (RUS)25 National Day (KWT)26 Liberation Day (KWT)27 Special Operations
Forces Day (RUS)28 228 Memorial Day (TWN)
March1 Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati
Jayanti (IND)1 Independence Day (KOR)2-6 Brazilian Carnival3 Dolls’/Girls' Festival (JPN)3 March bank holiday (QAT)4 Maha Shivaratri/Shivaratri (IND)4 Anniversary of Coronation of
Sultan of Terengganu (MYS)7 Hindu New Year 8 Int. Women’s Day12 Arbor Day (CHN)17 St. Patrick’s Day20 Holika Dahana (IND)21 Holi (IND)21 Dolyatra (IND)21 Hazarat Ali’s Birthday (IND)21 Nowruz (Persian New Year)29 Youth Day (TWN)23 Birthday Sultan of Johor (MYS)
April3 Ascension of the Prophet
Muhammad (Islam)3 Isra and Mi’raj (MYS)4 Children’s Day5 Tomb Sweeping Day
(HKG/TWN/CHN)5 Arbor Day (KOR)6 Chaitra Sukhladi (IND)6 Chakri Day (THA)8 Chakri Day (observed)13 Rama Navami (IND)13-16 Songkran (THA)14 Vaisakhi (Sikh/Hindu)14 Mesadi/Vaisakhadi (IND)14 Ambedkar Jayanti (IND)15 Tax Day (USA)15 Declaration of Malacca
as Historical City (MYS)17 Mahavir Jayanti (IND)19 Good Friday20 Holy Saturday21 Easter Sunday21 Tiradentes Day (BRA)22 Easter Monday27 Birthday of the Sultan
of Terengganu (MYS)29 Shōwa Day (JPN)
May1 Labour Day1 Spring and Labour Day (RUS)2-3 Spring and Labour Holiday (RUS)3 Constitution Memorial Day (JPN)4 Youth Day (CHN)4 Greenery Day (JPN)5 Cinco de Mayo (USA)5 Children’s Day (JPN)6 Ramadan begins (Islam)7 Pahang State Holiday (MYS)7 Birthday of Ravindranath (IND)8 Parents’ Day (KOR)9 Victory Day (RUS)12 Mother ’s Day (USA)12 Buddha’s Birthday13 Royal Ploughing Ceremony (THA)15 Teacher ’s Day (KOR)18-20 Buddha Purnima/Vesak
(Buddhist)22 Nuzul Al-Quran (Islam)27 Memorial Day (USA)30-31 Harvest Festival
(Pesta Ka’amatan) (MYS)31 Jamat Ul-Vida (IND)
June1 Children’s Day (CHN/RUS) 1 Pancasila Day (IDN)1-3 Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) (MYS/IDN)5 Eid al-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitar/Ramzan
Eid/Idul Fitri/Hari Raya Puasa) (Islam)
6 Memorial Day (KOR)7 Dragon Boat Festival (CHN)9 Children’s Day (USA) 12 Russia Day (RUS)12 Brazilian Valentine’s Day (BRA)16 Father ’s Day20 Corpus Christi (Catholic)
Planet Intelligence | 25March Report 2019
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