日本“码”上退税，引游客“一掷千金”

Core Insights - Japan's inbound tourism is experiencing significant growth, with foreign visitors reaching 3.4976 million in March 2025, a 13.5% increase year-on-year, marking a historical high [1] - The Japanese government emphasizes optimizing tax refund services to enhance consumer spending among foreign tourists, viewing this as a critical opportunity for the domestic market [1][2] - The introduction of electronic tax refund processes and the expansion of payment options, including UnionPay and electronic payment apps, are aimed at improving the shopping experience for tourists [2][3] Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has reached a record high, with significant contributions from major source markets [1] - The Japanese government has set three core goals in its tourism strategy: promoting sustainable tourism, increasing tourism spending, and encouraging visitors to explore regional areas [1] Group 2: Tax Refund and Shopping Experience - Japan has implemented a more convenient tax refund process, allowing tourists to complete refunds electronically, reducing the hassle of traditional methods [2] - Major department stores are enhancing their tax refund services, including the introduction of electronic payment options for refunds, which cater to the increasing number of Chinese tourists [2] - A new online platform, Visit Japan Web, has been launched to streamline entry procedures and includes a feature for tax-free shopping, allowing tourists to use a QR code instead of a passport [3] Group 3: Future Changes in Tax Policies - Starting November 1, 2026, Japan will revise its tax exemption and refund policies to further facilitate shopping for foreign tourists, including reducing restrictions on tax-free items and eliminating certain purchase limits [3] - The Japanese government is also considering online processing and integration with automated check-in systems to minimize wait times for tourists at departure [3] - While expanding tax refund options, Japan is also taking steps to regulate potential abuses of the system to prevent profit from loopholes [4]