TAIPEI (TVBS News) — As the pandemic gradually calms down, the market is picking back up its pace, especially the physical retail industry. For the first three quarters of 2022, the annual growth rate of Taiwan's physical retail industry was 8.68%, higher than 7.54% of the e-commerce industry.
The growth rate was also the highest for the physical retail industry since 2004. According to estimates, the revenue scale of department stores in Taiwan will exceed NT＄380 billion for the first time in 2022, setting a record high.
Hsiao Shu-ying, the manager at a department store, said: "Although the borders are now open, domestic consumption is still robust. In addition, masks are no longer needed outdoors. Makeup sales have skyrocketed, especially when it comes to lip products. For foundation and makeup products, sales have increased by about 20%."
The tourism and food and beverage industries are also gaining momentum, with the pandemic cooling down worldwide. Maggy, the public relations manager at a hotel, said: "Our hotel's occupancy rate was not good during the pandemic: around 10 to 20%. It has now returned to around 70 to 80%. It has grown relatively rapidly."
"For the food and beverage sector, there are many year-end gatherings or family gatherings during the holiday season, so the market performance, relatively speaking, is also growing by leaps and bounds," she added. While the food and beverage and tourism industries are rising, the food delivery service sector has taken a hit.
"The workload of each worker has dropped by 20 to 30% on average. Everyone is more willing to go to restaurants, so the percentage of people ordering food delivery will naturally decrease," said Su Bo-hao, spokesperson for a food delivery industry union.
Industries across Taiwan are readjusting their footsteps to welcome the post-pandemic era.
