The renaissance of Tax Free in Europe thanks to Chinese travelers

18-03-24

Chinese tourists are powering a significant resurgence in tax-free shopping across Europe and Asia, as reported by Global Blue, a company specializing in tourism shopping tax refunds. Following a four-year lull, tax-free shopping is now rebounding strongly, reaching levels comparable to those before the pandemic. According to Global Blue, tax-free shopping's global recovery saw a dramatic increase in February, achieving 141% of its pre-2019 figures, marking a significant resurgence in international retail activity.

Global Blue's analysis highlights the crucial role of China and its outbound tourists in driving the recovery of the tax-free shopping sector post-pandemic. With Continental Europe and the Asia-Pacific region at the forefront, the influence of Chinese tourists is unmistakable. The resurgence is especially pronounced in the Asia-Pacific, led by Japan and buoyed by Singapore's recent introduction of a visa-free policy for Chinese travelers. In February, tax-free purchases by tourists from mainland China neared 98% of their 2019 levels, signaling the return of Chinese tourists to the international shopping scene after years of preference for domestic travel and shopping.