放宽审批权限，中国完善免税店政策

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant optimization of China's duty-free shop policies aimed at boosting domestic consumption and attracting foreign visitors, effective from November 1, 2025 [3]. Group 1: Policy Enhancements - The Ministry of Finance and other departments have released a notification to improve the existing duty-free shop policies, focusing on four main areas [3]. - Duty-free shops will now be encouraged to promote domestic products, including traditional brands and cultural items, to meet the diverse needs of inbound tourists [3][4]. - Duty-free shops are required to allocate at least 25% of their sales area for domestic products [3]. Group 2: Expansion of Product Categories - The notification expands the range of products available in duty-free shops, adding categories such as mobile phones, drones, sports goods, health foods, over-the-counter drugs, and pet food [5]. - There is an emphasis on accelerating the introduction of popular overseas products into China's duty-free market [5]. Group 3: Approval Process and Local Integration - The approval process for establishing duty-free shops is being relaxed, allowing local governments to better integrate and optimize the layout of these shops [5]. - Local governments will now have the authority to manage the establishment and operation of duty-free shops within their jurisdictions [5]. Group 4: Enhanced Shopping Experience - The notification includes measures to improve the convenience and regulatory framework for duty-free shopping, such as allowing online reservations and pick-up at different locations [6]. - The "buy and refund" service for outbound travelers has been expanded nationwide, significantly enhancing the refund experience for foreign tourists [6]. - Data shows a substantial increase in the number of outbound travelers utilizing the refund service, with a 229.8% year-on-year growth in the number of travelers and a 97.4% increase in refund amounts from January to September this year [6].