退税更“丝滑” 多地提供“即买即退”服务 外国人来华购物更方便啦

Core Viewpoint - The recent optimization of the departure tax refund policy by the Ministry of Commerce and five other departments aims to enhance the shopping experience for foreign tourists and stimulate inbound consumption in China [1][6]. Group 1: Policy Changes and Implementation - The new policy has led to an increase in tax refund stores in various cities, providing more convenient services for foreign tourists [1]. - Shanghai has nearly 600 departure tax refund stores, with half offering "immediate refund" services, enhancing the shopping experience and promoting repeat purchases [3]. - The threshold for tax refunds has been lowered from 500 yuan to 200 yuan, and the cash refund limit has been raised from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, resulting in increased sales at tax refund stores in Beijing [10]. Group 2: Impact on Sales and Consumer Behavior - In the first quarter of this year, the number of departure tax refund applications in Beijing increased by 128%, with sales of tax refund goods reaching 270 million yuan, doubling year-on-year [13]. - Shanghai's sales of departure tax refund goods reached 760 million yuan, an 85% increase compared to the previous year [13]. - In Sichuan, the number of foreign tourists processing departure tax refunds grew by 204.78%, with sales increasing by 200.91% and the amount refunded rising by 211.64% [13]. Group 3: Consumer Experience and Preferences - Foreign tourists have expressed satisfaction with the convenience of the tax refund process, with many opting to continue shopping using the cash received from refunds [3][4]. - Traditional Chinese cultural products and domestic smart products have become popular among foreign tourists, with many seeking to purchase these items [8][14]. - The introduction of the "one order, one package" model in Shenzhen has streamlined the tax refund process, enhancing the overall experience for consumers [15][17].