上半年广州口岸离境退税申请金额超2亿元，增长近1.5倍

Core Viewpoint - The relaxation of China's exit visa policy and the optimization of the departure tax refund policy have significantly boosted the consumption enthusiasm of foreign travelers, leading to record-high tax refund applications and amounts [1]. Group 1: Departure Tax Refund Policy - In the first half of this year, Guangzhou Customs reported over 8,000 departure tax refund applications from foreign travelers, with a total refund amount exceeding 200 million yuan, marking year-on-year increases of 192.6% and 149% respectively, setting a historical high [1]. - The Ministry of Commerce, along with the Ministry of Finance and the General Administration of Customs, issued a notice on April 27 to further optimize the departure tax refund policy, lowering the minimum refund threshold from 500 yuan to 200 yuan and increasing the cash refund limit from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan [1]. Group 2: Service Enhancements at Customs - Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Customs has enhanced the departure tax refund process by utilizing multilingual staff and translation devices, providing all-time service and consultation to travelers, which has improved the overall refund experience [2]. - In the first half of the year, the total amount of departure tax refund applications processed by Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Customs exceeded 175 million yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 163% [2]. Group 3: Integrated Service Models - The Nansha Customs has implemented an integrated service model for departure tax refunds, allowing travelers to complete the process quickly, with some travelers reporting completion in under 10 minutes [3]. - The "one order, one package" service model has been introduced, where travelers' purchased tax refund items are sealed in standard bags that correspond to their refund applications, facilitating faster customs clearance [3]. Group 4: Future Developments - Guangzhou Customs plans to explore the development of self-service verification equipment to enhance the efficiency of tax refund verification and promote a paperless process for travelers, further stimulating inbound consumption [3].