Tax-free shopping surges to pre-pandemic levels: Global Blue Report
14-06-24
Tax-free shopping returned to pre-pandemic levels last month, according to a recent update by tourism shopping tax refund company Global Blue. The global recovery for tax-free shopping surged to 172% of 2019’s level, showcasing a robust revival in international shopping. Mapping tax-free shopping across Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific (APAC), Global Blue highlights the key role of Chinese shoppers in driving the segment’s post-pandemic recovery.
APAC, led by Japan and buoyed by strong performances in South Korea, is seeing a particularly vigorous recovery. In May, tax-free spending by Mainland Chinese shoppers reached 132% of 2019’s level, underscoring the return of Chinese outbound tourists after years of domestic travel and spending. Examining the year-on-year growth, tax-free shopping by Mainland Chinese shoppers jumped 164% in May on a global basis.