扩商店、增商品、优服务，中国离境退税政策持续优化—— 便利旅游购物 扩大入境消费

Core Insights - The number of foreign travelers applying for tax refunds in China has increased by 229.8% year-on-year from January to September, with the total refund amount rising by 97.4% [1] - China's departure tax refund policy has been continuously optimized, enhancing the shopping experience for foreign travelers and stimulating inbound consumption [1] Group 1: Tax Refund Process Enhancements - Shanghai has improved the shopping convenience for foreign travelers by establishing 26 centralized tax refund points in key shopping districts, allowing for efficient processing of refunds from multiple stores [1] - The introduction of self-service tax refund machines in major department stores enables travelers to quickly generate tax refund applications by scanning their invoices and passports [2] - The "immediate refund" service allows travelers to receive tax refunds in real-time through platforms like Alipay, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the refund process [3] Group 2: Growth in Tax Refunds and Consumer Spending - Shanghai has processed tax refunds for nearly 100,000 travelers from 179 countries and regions, with a year-on-year sales increase of 83.8% and a refund amount increase of 82.9% [3] - Guangzhou has seen a 1.5 times increase in tax refund amounts in the first nine months of the year, with a record 7.4 times increase in refund applications from October 1 to 22 [6] - Chengdu has reported a 253% increase in tax refund transactions and a 188% increase in refund amounts from January to October, driven by the "immediate refund" service [10] Group 3: Expansion of Tax Refund Services - The number of tax refund stores in Shanghai has exceeded 1,700, including a variety of local and international brands [2] - Chengdu has established over 600 tax refund stores, with more than 170 offering the "immediate refund" service, enhancing the shopping experience for foreign travelers [8] - The introduction of a "one order, one package" model in Guangdong has streamlined the customs verification process, improving efficiency for travelers [6] Group 4: Consumer Experience and Feedback - Foreign travelers have expressed high satisfaction with the efficiency of the tax refund process, with many planning to return for more shopping due to the favorable pricing and convenience [4][5] - The "immediate refund" service has been particularly praised for allowing travelers to receive refunds quickly, enabling them to make additional purchases during their trips [8][9]