intelligence

March Report 2019 Contents

Tax Free Trends

Summary 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 Forecast

Europe 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

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 2 Shopping & Arrivals Growth Summary - March 2019 Top 5 Destination Markets +4% Total Sales Tax Free Vouchers/ Avg. Transaction Arrival Sales Turnover Transaction Values (ATV) Numbers

France +13% +6% +6% -5% Italy +2% +2% 0% +2% United Kingdom +1% -6% +8% 0% +1% Total Vouchers Spain -10% +20% -25% +4% Germany -11% -20% +12% +7%

Top 5 Source Markets Tax Free Vouchers/ Avg. Transaction Arrival Sales Turnover Transaction Values (ATV) Numbers +4% Total ATV China -8% -23% +19% +13% USA +32% +19% +10% +8% Taiwan +26% +2% +24% +17% Russia -8% -10% +2% -4% +2% South Korea +19% +19% 0% -7% Total Arrivals

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 3 Shopping & Arrivals Growth Summary - YTD Top 5 Destination Markets +2% Total Sales Tax Free Vouchers/ Avg. Transaction Arrival Sales Turnover Transaction Values (ATV) Numbers

France +6% -1% +6% -5% United Kingdom -1% -6% +6% +1% Italy +4% +4% 0% +1% 0% Total Vouchers Spain -1% +23% -20% +5% Germany -7% -13% +6% +3%

Top 5 Source Markets Tax Free Vouchers/ Avg. Transaction Arrival Sales Turnover Transaction Values (ATV) Numbers +2% Total ATV China +1% -5% +6% +10% USA +27% +13% +13% +8% Russia -17% -14% -3% -7% Taiwan +36% +10% +24% +20% +1% South Korea +14% +14% 0% +1% Total Arrivals

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 4 Tax Free Shopping Sales Trends – March 2019

Overview China’s VAT cuts result in luxury March represented yet another positive month for Europe’s brand price reductions retailers, with Tax Free sales to international shoppers increasing by 4% compared with the same month a year As of April 1st, the Chinese Government reduced its ago. This marks the sixth consecutive month of growth and value-added tax (VAT) rate, in an attempt to stimulate a a 2-percentage-point growth rate compared with February. slowing economy. As a result, a number of luxury brands have already reduced their prices. Encouragingly, the current Tax Free landscape is in a much healthier state compared with this time last year, which Europe has been hailed by many as the “shopping outlet of witnessed an 8% decline in Tax Free sales. the world”, due to the continent’s lower cost of luxury goods relative to many other countries. However, with the prices France and Italy were this month’s highest performing of luxury goods decreasing in China – the world’s number countries, growing 13% and 2% respectively. French one Tax Free shopping nation - some retailers may fear this retailers will be glad to see positive Tax Free growth after could deter Chinese shoppers from travelling abroad in the ongoing political unrest driven by the Gilets Jaunes protests search for cheaper goods. negatively impacting retail sales in recent months. In a further effort to spark domestic consumption, Chinese Not every country has benefited from an increase in authorities have created a new four-day holiday in May, international shopper activity. Spain suffered a 10% decline which may result in increased international travel. in Tax Free sales, largely driven by a fall in average transaction value (ATV), which fell by 25% in March. This follows a However, not everyone is pessimistic about the new government-mandated reduction in the minimum Tax Free regulations. In January, data from investment bank UBS purchase threshold last year. Tax Free sales in Germany also found that product prices in China maintained a significant fell by 11%, as a result of declines in Chinese and Taiwanese premium of 30% compared with Europe’s prices – before spending after February’s Chinese New Year celebrations. any Tax Free saving is factored in. In addition, the euro’s weakness as a result of the downward Y/Y Sales Growth 2018 2019 pressure on the German and Italian economies has also 30% likely had an impact on price differentials. 25% March saw a slight decrease in Tax Free sales to Chinese 20% shoppers across Europe, but the 8% decline can largely be 15% attributed to Chinese New Year falling earlier in 2019 than 10% last year. 5% 0% -5% -10% 1. www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/apple-louis-vuitton-gucci- JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 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 The Planet Shopper Index, which uses Tax Free purchasing Despite this growth, Vietnam’s GDP per capita is still low, nd important role in driving global Tax Free sales. data and key economic measures including inflation, GDP ranking 132 out of the 184 countries measured by the growth and currency movement, tracks the spending power World Bank in 2017, highlighting the substantial wealth Although European retailers saw a 6% decline of the 25 most lucrative international source markets. The gap throughout the nation. However, GDP per capita in in purchases by Vietnamese shoppers in 2018, latest index saw Vietnam climb two places to 8th overall1. the emerging manufacturing powerhouse grew by an astounding 160%3 across the last ten years of available the ATV for Vietnamese shoppers has continued This rise in Vietnamese spending power seems to correlate data, with its latest quarterly growth measuring 6.9% to grow. The country’s average spend for March with the expansion of the country’s middle class. According year on year4. came in at a massive €1,036, and continues to to Boston Consulting Group, the number of middle class rank higher than the traditional big-spending citizens is expected to increase from 20 million in 2015 to 33 million in 2020, representing a 65% increase. nations of the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan This socioeconomic boom is being driven by the growth of 1. www.planetpayment.com/media/4306/planet-shopper-index_issue2_uk.pdf and China.  the upper middle class, which is expected to double in size 2. www.bcg.com/publications/2016/globalization-growth-capitalizing-asias- booming-upper-middle-class.aspx In fact, the ATV for Vietnamese shoppers has grown by 14% from 5 million to 10 million within the same period2. The 3. data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=VN year-on-year for the past two years. As a result, Vietnamese average upper-middle-class Vietnamese spends 87% more 4. en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/7309602-robust-production-fueling- shoppers have moved from the 27th highest-ranking country on international travel per year than the average middle- economic-growth.html in terms of ATV in 2017, to 17th in 2018. class citizen. [Chart] https://tradingeconomics.com/vietnam/gdp-growth

Top 25 Countries - ATV and SiS mix % 2018 2018 ATV 2018 SiS mix Vietnam - Quarterly Year-on-Year GDP growth

€1200 €814 35% 10% 31% 30% €814 €1000 €814 7.7% 8%

€814 7.0% 6.9% €814 25% 6.7% 6.7% €814

€814 6.3% €800 5.8% 7.5% 7.5% 6.9% €814 €814 6% €814

€814 20%

€814 6.6% €814 €814 €814

€600 €814 €814 5.5%

€814 5.1% €814 €814 €814 15% €814 €814 4% €814 €400 €814 9%

€814 10% 6%

4% 4% 2%

€200 3% 5% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% €0 0% 0%

USA UAE Qatar India Jul 16 Jul 17 Jul 18 China Russia Japan Israel Brazil Egypt Jan 16 Apr 16 Oct 16 Jan 17 Apr 17 Oct 17 Jan 18 Apr 18 Oct 18 Jan 19 Taiwan Kuwait Ukraine Canada Thailand Malaysia Lebanon Morocco Australia Vietnam Hong Kong Singapore Indonesia South Korea Saudi ArabiaSwitzerland

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 6 Sales Performance - March 2019

By Destination By Source Market

FRA +13.1% CHN -8.3%

ITA +1.6% USA +31.8%

GBR +0.8% TWN +26.4%

ESP -9.5% RUS -7.9%

DEU -10.9% KOR +18.8%

AUT +0.3% HKG -3.0%

PRT +26.6% THA +0.2%

CZE -6.1% KWT +20.4%

CHE -2.6% JPN +25.3%

IRL +13.2% UAE +25.1%

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 7 Sales Performance - YTD

By Destination By Source Market

FRA +5.7% CHN +1.2%

GBR -0.5% USA +26.8%

ITA +4.2% RUS -16.7%

ESP -1.5% TWN +36.3%

DEU -7.4% KOR +13.9%

AUT +3.9% HKG +1.2%

PRT +9.4% THA -0.6%

CZE -1.9% KWT +10.0%

IRL +8.5% JAP +21.4%

CHE -14.1% UAE +4.1%

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 8 Top 5 Visitor Nations per Destination Country – March 2019

Top 5 Share ATV Y/Y Sales Top 5 Share ATV Y/Y Sales FRA CHINA 39% € 1,971 +17% AUT CHINA 23% € 669 -23% USA 9% € 1,416 +33% TAIWAN 11% € 619 +61% TAIWAN 8% € 2,677 +53% RUSSIA 11% € 442 -17% SOUTH KOREA 5% € 700 +4% SWITZERLAND 10% € 483 +11% HONG KONG 3% € 2,869 -17% UKRAINE 6% € 461 +27%

ITA CHINA 22% € 1,026 -33% PRT CHINA 29% € 2,561 -6% RUSSIA 11% € 720 -8% BRAZIL 22% € 455 +48% USA 8% € 989 +26% ANGOLA 16% € 418 +33% SOUTH KOREA 8% € 763 +51% USA 5% € 1,746 +616% TAIWAN 7% € 1,030 +17% UAE 4% € 9,961 +349%

GBR CHINA 17% € 443 -29% CZE TAIWAN 30% € 239 +12% KUWAIT 9% € 368 +20% CHINA 24% € 312 -22% USA 8% € 513 +31% RUSSIA 21% € 270 -12% UAE 6% € 732 +49% SOUTH KOREA 4% € 203 -22% HONG KONG 5% € 479 -13% UKRAINE 3% € 384 +18%

ESP CHINA 29% € 618 -34% CHE CHINA 21% € 1,278 -26% USA 7% € 663 +23% RUSSIA 9% € 1,633 -7% RUSSIA 6% € 341 -18% THAILAND 8% € 1,438 +88% SOUTH KOREA 5% € 324 +69% USA 6% € 1,442 +28% ARGENTINA 4% € 211 -18% KUWAIT 5% € 2,347 +161%

DEU CHINA 42% € 910 -17% IRL CHINA 38% € 449 -15% RUSSIA 9% € 630 -20% USA 33% € 144 +35% THAILAND 6% € 1,030 +20% CANADA 3% € 151 +16% TAIWAN 4% € 503 -29% COSTA RICA 2% € 26,908 +53,541% HONG KONG 3% € 2,020 +69% HONG KONG 2% € 555 +90%

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 9 Top 5 Visitor Nations per Destination Country – YTD

Top 5 Share ATV Y/Y Sales Top 5 Share ATV Y/Y Sales FRA CHINA 37% € 1,866 +9% AUT CHINA 23% € 677 +11% USA 8% € 1,348 +29% RUSSIA 13% € 421 -26% TAIWAN 8% € 2,580 +63% TAIWAN 9% € 652 +107% SOUTH KOREA 5% € 680 +1% SWITZERLAND 9% € 430 -9% HONG KONG 3% € 2,591 -24% UKRAINE 6% € 455 +2%

GBR CHINA 23% € 423 -8% PRT CHINA 30% € 2,203 +8% KUWAIT 8% € 344 +11% BRAZIL 22% € 432 -6% USA 7% € 537 +29% ANGOLA 19% € 455 +21% UAE 6% € 617 +10% USA 5% € 1,848 +592% HONG KONG 5% € 465 +2% HONG KONG 3% € 10,449 -14%

ITA CHINA 26% € 1,032 -13% CZE TAIWAN 25% € 234 +26% RUSSIA 12% € 685 -10% CHINA 23% € 299 +17% USA 7% € 1,021 +22% RUSSIA 23% € 289 -28% SOUTH KOREA 6% € 723 +44% SOUTH KOREA 4% € 189 -31% TAIWAN 6% € 1,119 +21% UKRAINE 3% € 385 -5%

ESP CHINA 31% € 629 -3% IRL CHINA 42% € 448 -7% RUSSIA 7% € 360 -17% USA 24% € 175 +26% USA 6% € 629 +18% UAE 3% € 481 +84% SOUTH KOREA 6% € 308 +69% MALAYSIA 3% € 356 -9% MOROCCO 4% € 264 -10% AUSTRALIA 3% € 180 -5%

DEU CHINA 38% € 834 -8% CHE CHINA 21% € 1,348 -26% RUSSIA 10% € 490 -21% RUSSIA 9% € 1,330 -27% THAILAND 5% € 1,069 +18% UAE 8% € 2,932 +6% TAIWAN 4% € 447 -13% USA 6% € 1,482 +3% SWITZERLAND 3% € 370 -7% THAILAND 6% € 1,347 +58%

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 10 Currency vs Euro & GBP: Top Source Markets

Currency movements: Last 52 Weeks

CNY > EUR RUB > EUR CNY > GBP

8.2 82 9.2

8.1 80 9.1 8.0 78 9.0 7.9 76 8.9 7.8 74 8.8 7.7 72 8.7 7.6 70 7.5 8.6

7.4 68 8.5

7.3 66 8.4

USD > EUR HKD > EUR USD > GBP

1.26 9.8 1.45

1.24 9.6 1.40 1.22 9.4 1.35 1.20 9.2 1.18 1.30 9.0 1.16 1.25 8.8 1.14

1.12 8.6 1.20

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 11 Arrivals Forecast

In partnership with

Know tomorrow’s travellers

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 12 Europe Total GBR FRA IRL

Overview +3.0% +2.7% +0.7% +4.9% +4.9% -1.0% +4.5% +2.8%

Destination Market Insights APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19 In the second quarter of 2019, Europe can expect a 3% increase in arrivals of non-EU visitors. The countries most CZE 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 +2.5% 0.0% 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. AUT Source Market Insights The second quarter of the year will see significant increases in arrivals from Asian markets, with visitor +4.1% +6.0% 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 FIN 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 +1.2% -1.8% 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. ITA ESP DEU PRT

+6.9% +3.8% +0.2% +2.9% +0.8% +1.7% +5.9% +7.0%

Planet Intelligence | 13 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - France +0.5% -16.0% +12.2% -0.1% +10.0% +7.9%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+5.2% +5.8% -2.3% -19.2%

BRA JPN

+13.0% +1.4% +13.9% +9.7%

KUW TWN

+4.4% -8.8% +9.3% +4.3%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+19.6% +1.6% +24.6% -12.6% -1.3% -7.5% +12.8% -5.7% +22.9% +12.0% +14.7% +8.5%

Planet Intelligence | 14 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - UK -9.6% -7.9% -1.9% +16.3% -11.8% +5.9%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

-0.2% +8.5% -12.8% -7.6%

BRA JPN

+7.9% +15.6% -1.9% +22.8%

KUW TWN

-6.0% +17.5% -4.2% +16.8%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+16.3% +16.0% -1.4% +4.6% -8.0% +6.4% +8.6% +5.9% -0.7% +2.4% -3.3% -0.8%

Planet Intelligence | 15 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Italy -12.5% +9.0% +6.3% +4.6% +7.0% +14.6%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+11.0% +8.2% +4.0% -1.2%

BRA JPN

+20.2% +6.1% +6.0% +11.5%

KUW TWN

+16.3% -2.5% +1.0% +4.2%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+16.6% -1.0% +0.5% -16.2% -14.3% -0.4% +17.0% -9.7% +27.0% +9.9% -3.8% +9.1%

Planet Intelligence | 16 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Spain -10.3% +4.1% -6.7% +15.7% -3.4% +33.7%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

-2.9% +5.9% -1.7% -3.7%

BRA JPN

+4.9% +6.3% -9.6% +32.3%

KUW TWN

-20.2% +8.7% +23.0% -5.9%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+18.1% -14.0% +3.4% -10.4% -7.2% +2.5% +17.5% -5.1% +6.1% +9.4% -28.4% +21.9%

Planet Intelligence | 17 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Germany -5.4% +1.5% +3.2% -0.2% -2.5% +20.2%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+1.0% +7.2% -6.0% -0.9%

BRA JPN

+3.8% +9.0% +0.6% +8.0%

KUW TWN

+13.9% +6.8% +0.8% +23.0%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+29.0% +17.4% +10.2% -8.7% -10.6% -9.0% +6.2% -5.7% +7.9% +7.2% -2.2% -8.9%

Planet Intelligence | 18 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Austria -7.1% -7.7% +16.1% +20.8% -0.3% +23.6%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+3.9% +8.5% +3.7% +6.1%

BRA JPN

-18.1% +6.2% +12.0% +7.8%

KUW TWN

-3.2% +2.8% +8.0% +67.4%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+30.0% +28.8% +3.0% -14.5% -13.6% -2.0% +2.6% -5.8% +178.0% +3.8% -1.7% +9.8%

Planet Intelligence | 19 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Finland -12.7% +1.1% -14.8% -3.3% +13.0% +15.0%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+7.4% +9.1% +12.1% -19.0%

BRA JPN

+1.3% -5.1% +1.9% +5.8%

KUW TWN

+9.1% -32.2% -3.2% +5.4%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

-10.0% -5.3% -30.4% +9.0% -8.8% -11.5% +8.6% -2.5% -0.1% +15.7% -9.2% -34.5%

Planet Intelligence | 20 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Portugal -10.7% -7.5% -12.8% +6.5% +1.1% +29.8%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+6.3% +19.7% -4.6% +19.0%

BRA JPN

+9.0% +3.6% +10.0% +7.1%

KUW TWN

+16.3% -9.3% +136.9% -31.6%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+2.0% +1.6% -12.0% -6.9% +6.5% -4.8% +21.1% -6.7% +30.6% +19.1% +9.8% +30.0%

Planet Intelligence | 21 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Ireland -4.0% +18.8% +1.7% -8.8% -11.3% +34.2%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+1.4% +3.2% +17.3% -21.3%

BRA JPN

+20.6% +8.1% -14.8% -1.4%

KUW TWN

-9.1% -21.5% -28.1% +23.9%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+20.8% -11.9% +6.1% -9.8% -6.6% -0.3% +21.3% +8.1% +23.8% -8.0% -20.4% -3.2%

Planet Intelligence | 22 Know tomorrow’s travellers 3 Month Arrivals RUS CHN HNG

Outlook - Czech Rep. -12.7% +3.8% +4.2% +3.2% -2.2% +15.1%

APR 18 - JUN 18 APR 19 - JUN 19

USA KOR

+14.7% +10.9% +4.1% -12.6%

BRA JPN

+1.1% -11.8% +8.0% +12.7%

KUW TWN

+31.0% -2.5% -26.6% +14.4%

SAU QAT UAE IND THA MYS

+32.6% -15.4% +97.3% -35.6% -24.0% +15.1% +26.3% -4.8% -0.8% -8.6% +46.0% -45.2%

Planet Intelligence | 23 Know tomorrow’s travellers Planet International Calendar

Planning for international shoppers throughout the year

The following heat map has been designed Key Tax Free shopping months include July, in order to show the important travelling which is the busiest Tax Free shopping month times of key Tax Free shopping nations. of the year, coinciding with summer holidays, as well as US Independence Day. October is Used in conjunction with the major also a major month for international shoppers, international calendar dates that are which sees a sharp increase in tourists seeking provided on the following page, you will to enjoy Chinese National Golden week. August be able to plan for the major international also sees a significant amount of spend, as shopping periods throughout 2019. many Middle Eastern inhabitants travel in order to celebrate the Eid al-Adha Festival. 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

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 24 May September November 1 Labour Day 1 Day of Knowledge (RUS) 2 Chhath Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/ 1 Spring and Labour Day (RUS) 1 Muharram / Al-Hijra Surya Sashthi) (IND) 2-3 Spring and Labour Holiday (RUS) (Islamic New Year) 2 All Souls’ Day (BRA) 3 Constitution Memorial Day (JPN) 2 Labour Day (USA) 3-4 Culture Day (JPN) 4 Youth Day (CHN) 2 Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka 4 Unity Day (RUS) 4 Greenery Day (JPN) Chaturthi (Hindu) 9-10 Mawlid (Mouloud /The Prophet 5 Cinco de Mayo (USA) 3 Armed Forces Day (TWN) Muhammad’s Birthday) (Islam) January March 5 Children’s Day (JPN) 7 Independence Day (BRA) 11 Double 11th Festival (CHN) 1 New Year’s Day 1 Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati 6 Ramadan begins (Islam) 9 The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s 11-12 Birthday of the Sultan of 2 New Year’s weekend Jayanti (IND) 7 Pahang State Holiday (MYS) Birthday (MYS) Kelantan (MYS) 2-3 Jan Bank Holiday (JPN) 1 Independence Day (KOR) 7 Birthday of Ravindranath (IND) 10 Muharram/Ashura (Islam) 12 Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh) 2-8 New Year Holiday Week (RUS) 2-6 Brazilian Carnival 8 Parents’ Day (KOR) 11 Onam (Hindu) 15 7-5-3 Day (JPN) 6 Iraq Army Day (IRQ) 3 Dolls’/Girls' Festival (JPN) 9 Victory Day (RUS) 13 Mid-Autumn Festival 15 Republic Proclamation Day (BRA) 7 Orthodox Christmas Day (RUS) 3 March bank holiday (QAT) 12 Mother’s Day (USA) (CHN/HKG/TWN) 20 Black Consciousness Day (BRA) 13 Guru Govind Singh Jayanti (IND) 4 Maha Shivaratri/Shivaratri (IND) 12 Buddha’s Birthday 14 Day after Mid-Autumn Festival 20 Children's Day (UAE) 13 Lohri (IND) 4 Anniversary of Coronation of 13 Royal Ploughing Ceremony (THA) 16 Malaysia Day 23 Labour Thanksgiving Day (JPN) 14 Makar Sankranti (IND) Sultan of Terengganu (MYS) 15 Teacher’s Day (KOR) 16 Respect for the Aged Day (JPN) 24 Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 14 Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan 7 Hindu New Year 18-20 Buddha Purnima/Vesak 23 Autumn Equinox Martyrdom Day (Sikh) Besar (MYS) 8 Int. Women’s Day (Buddhist) 28 Thanksgiving Day (USA) 14 Coming of Age Day (JPN) 12 Arbor Day (CHN) 22 Nuzul Al-Quran (Islam) July October 29 Black Friday (USA) 15 Pongal (IND) 17 St. Patrick’s Day 27 Memorial Day (USA) 1 Armed Forces Day (KOR) 30 Commemoration Day (UAE) 4 Independence Day (USA) 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (USA) 20 Holika Dahana (IND) 30-31 Harvest Festival 1-7 National Day and Golden Week 4 Rath Yatra (Hindu) 21 Thaipusam (MYS) 21 Holi (IND) (Pesta Ka’amatan) (MYS) holiday (CHN) 7 Star Festival (JPN) 26 Republic Day (IND) 21 Dolyatra (IND) 31 Jamat Ul-Vida (IND) 2 Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (IND) 14 Republic Day (IRQ) 21 Hazarat Ali’s Birthday (IND) 3 Iraqi Independence Day 15 Sea Day (JPN) 21 Nowruz (Persian New Year) 3 National Foundation Day (KOR) 16 Asalha Bucha (THA) 29 Youth Day (TWN) 5 Maha Saptami (IND) 17 Buddhist Lent Day 23 Birthday Sultan of Johor (MYS) 6 Maha Ashtami (IND) 17 Constitution Day (KOR) 7 Maha Navami (IND) April 22 Sarawak Independence Day (MYS) 7 Double Ninth Festival (CHN) 28 King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday 3 Ascension of the Prophet 7 Dussehra (Hindu) (THA) Muhammad (Islam) 9 Hangeul Proclamation Day (KOR) February 3 Isra and Mi’raj (MYS) 10 National Day/Double Tenth Day 4 Children’s Day August (TWN) 1 Federal Territory Day (MYS) 5 Tomb Sweeping Day 7 Chinese Valentine’s Day 12 Our Lady Aparecida/ 4 Chinese New Year’s Eve (CHN) (HKG/TWN/CHN) 11-15 Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji/ Children’s Day (BRA) 4 Farmer’s Day (TWN) 5 Arbor Day (KOR) Bakr Id/Feast of sacrifice) (Islam) 13 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (IND) 4 Seollal Holiday (KOR) 6 Chaitra Sukhladi (IND) 11-12 Mountain Day (JPN) 14 Columbus Day (USA) 5 Chinese New Year 6 Chakri Day (THA) 12 The Queen’s Birthday (THA) 17 Karva Chauth (Hindu) 5-6 Seollal (KOR) 8 Chakri Day (observed) 15 Spirit Festival (CHN/HKG/TWN) 23 Chulalongkorn Day (THA) 6-10 New Year Golden Week (CHN) 13 Rama Navami (IND) 15 Ghost Festival (JPN) 24 Birthday of Sultan of Pahang (MYS) 10 Vasant Panchami (IND) 13-16 Songkran (THA) 15 Independence Day (IND) 25 Taiwan’s Retrocession Day 11 National Foundation Day (JPN) 14 Vaisakhi (Sikh/Hindu) June 15 Raksha Bandhan 27 Naraka Chaturdashi (Hindu) 12 National Sports Day (QAT) 14 Mesadi/Vaisakhadi (IND) (Hindu/Sikh/Jain) 27 Diwali/Deepavali 14 Valentine’s Day 14 Ambedkar Jayanti (IND) 1 Children’s Day (CHN/RUS) 17 Navroze (Parsi New Year) (IND) (Hindu/Sikh/Jain/Buddhist) 18 Presidents’ Day (USA) 15 Tax Day (USA) 1 Pancasila Day (IDN) 24 Janmashtami (Hindu) 28 Govardhan Puja (IND) 19 Lantern Festival (CHN) 15 Declaration of Malacca 1-3 Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) (MYS/IDN) 31 Merdeka Day 29 Bhai Dooj (Hindu) 19 Shivaji Jayanti (IND) as Historical City (MYS) 5 Eid al-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitar/Ramzan Independence Day (MYS) 31 Halloween (USA) 19 Guru Ravidas Jayanti (IND) 17 Mahavir Jayanti (IND) Eid/Idul Fitri/Hari Raya Puasa) 19 Makha Bucha (THA) 19 Good Friday (Islam) December 23 Defender of the Fatherland 20 Holy Saturday 6 Memorial Day (KOR) 2 National Day (UAE) Day (RUS) 21 Easter Sunday 7 Dragon Boat Festival (CHN) 3 National Day Holiday (UAE) 25 National Day (KWT) 21 Tiradentes Day (BRA) 9 Children’s Day (USA) 18 National Day (QAT) 26 Liberation Day (KWT) 22 Easter Monday 12 Russia Day (RUS) 24 Christmas Eve 27 Special Operations 27 Birthday of the Sultan 12 Brazilian Valentine’s Day (BRA) 25 Christmas Day Forces Day (RUS) of Terengganu (MYS) 16 Father’s Day 26 Boxing Day 28 228 Memorial Day (TWN) 29 Shōwa Day (JPN) 20 Corpus Christi (Catholic) 31 New Year’s Eve

March Report 2019 Planet Intelligence | 25 Planet is headquartered in Galway, Ireland Email: [email protected] | Web: planetpayment.com

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