Core Viewpoint - The new exit tax refund policy in Hainan has significantly boosted the number of tax refund applications and the amount refunded during the May Day holiday, indicating a positive impact on inbound tourism and consumer spending [1][2][4]. Group 1: Policy Changes - The exit tax refund threshold for foreign tourists has been lowered from 500 yuan to 200 yuan, making it easier for travelers to claim refunds [2][4]. - The new policy aims to enhance the convenience of exit tax refunds, promote the increase of participating stores, diversify product offerings, and improve service levels [4]. Group 2: Impact on Tourism and Refund Applications - During the May Day holiday, Hainan's airport ports processed 65 exit tax refund applications, a 103% increase compared to the same period last year, with the total refund amount increasing by 3.2 times [2][3]. - The first outbound flight during the holiday processed 15 exit tax refund applications, showcasing immediate interest from travelers [2]. Group 3: Infrastructure and Efficiency - Hainan has optimized the layout of tax refund stores, establishing 45 designated refund stores across major tourist areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage in key tourism counties [2][3]. - The customs authorities have implemented a streamlined "one-time inspection" model at the airports, enhancing the efficiency of the exit tax refund process and improving the overall travel experience for tourists [3].

刚刚过去的"五一"假期，境外旅客入境消费旺盛，离境退税备受好评。"五一"假期，银联、网联处理境 外来华人员支付交易笔数、金额较去年同期分别增长244.86%、128.04%。 近日，商务部等六部门出台举措进一步优化离境退税政策，扩大入境消费，让境外旅客有更多好店逛、 更多好物买，办理退税更方便。离境退税新政已在多地落地，境外旅客消费热情被进一步点燃。 ——编者 刺激中小额消费，提升购买频次 "现在来广州，过境免签时长有240小时，非常方便。"随着"中国游"持续火热，"五一"假期前夕，来自 巴基斯坦的旅客阿齐姆和朋友一起到广东广州游玩，打卡了广州塔等热门景点。 旅游之余，阿齐姆和朋友又到天河路商圈购物。"没想到买一双鞋也能退税，在店里就能拿到退税 款。"在某中国品牌鞋店，阿齐姆看中了一款300多元的球鞋，当即付款。在店内工作人员指引下，他点 击应用程序上传护照信息，绑定信用卡，上传退税单和发票，不一会儿卡里就收到了30多元的退税款。 目前，广州共有离境退税商店365家，其中，"即买即退"商店已扩围至67家。据统计，"五一"假期，广 州开出的境外旅客购物离境退税申请单同比增长125%。 "起退点从500元降至20 ...

优化离境退税政策落实落地 何亚东表示，各地按照国际消费季总体安排，聚焦国际精品和国货潮品，组织开展丰富多彩的特色活 动，细化完善本地离境退税的措施，用足用好优化退税商店备案，起退点从500元降至200元，现金退税 限额从1万元上调至2万元等政策，扩商店、增商品优服务，推动扩大入境消费。 "五一"假期全国重点零售和餐饮企业销售额同比增长了6.3%。 何亚东举例称，上海举办第六届"五五购物节"，"五一"期间全市离境退税销售额同比增长1.2倍；北京 发布多语种的离境退税指南和离境退税商店电子地图，"五一"期间重点监测离境退税商店销售额同比增 长了73%；深圳推出离境退税"一单一包"便利化模式，大幅缩短退税的等待时间。 本月初，"2025国际消费季暨第六届上海五五购物节"启动仪式在上海举行。 何亚东称，下一步，商务部将会同有关部门持续组织开展"购在中国"系列活动，让国内消费者和境外游 客惠购全球好物，惠享优质服务，既满足国内居民多元化的需求，也丰富和便利外国游客"购在中国"。 5月8日，商务部新闻发言人何亚东在例行新闻发布会上对第一财经记者表示，商务部于5月1日启动了 2025国际消费季，这是"购在中国"二季度的重点 ...

"五一"期间，来自香港的林先生在杭州大厦购物后，体验了一把"即买即退"的便捷服务。"太方便了！ 在商场购物后当场就能拿到11%的退税款，到了机场海关办理退税手续，短短3分钟就完成了，为杭州 的高效服务点赞！"林先生说。 为了应对客流高峰，给旅客带来更优质的退税体验，杭州萧山国际机场海关提前谋划。一方面，设置专 门岗位，为旅客提供商品验核、查验、监管离境一站式服务，加快离境退税业务办理速度；同时强化与 税务、银行等部门的多跨协同合作，实现信息跨部门实时共享，让数据多跑路、旅客少等待，为旅客创 造更便捷、舒适的购物退税体验。 数据显示，今年1-4月，杭州萧山国际机场海关累计办理离境退税业务925票，退税金额达506.55万元， 分别同比增长108.8%和84.9%，其中，4月离境退税业务表现尤为突出，单月办理退税业务356票，环比 3月增长33.33%。 商报讯(记者汤佳烨通讯员周雨亮)"五一"假期，杭州空港境外旅客入境人数大幅增长，离境退税业务随 之"红火"，退税申请量、退税金额均实现大幅提升。"五一"假期期间，杭州萧山国际机场海关累计办理 离境退税业务59票，退税金额17.02万元，同比分别大幅增长136%和 ...

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant increase in inbound tourism and consumer spending in China during the 2025 "May Day" holiday, driven by optimized policies such as 240-hour visa-free transit and immediate tax refunds for departing tourists [1][2]. Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - During the "May Day" holiday, a total of 10.896 million people entered and exited China, with foreign visitors accounting for 1.115 million, marking a 43.1% year-on-year increase [1]. - Chengdu emerged as a popular destination for foreign tourists, with a notable increase in tax refund transactions, particularly due to the "immediate refund" service [1][2]. Group 2: Tax Refund Policy Impact - The volume of tax refund transactions in Chengdu SKP increased by 450% compared to the previous year, with immediate refunds making up 41% of these transactions [2][3]. - Overall, Chengdu's tax refund processing volume grew by 160% and the refund amount increased by 121% during the holiday [2][3]. Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Preferences - Foreign tourists primarily purchased jewelry, clothing, and luggage, with these items accounting for 91% of tax refund goods [3]. - The tax refund policy has effectively lowered the psychological cost of high-priced items, stimulating impulsive purchases among tourists [3]. Group 4: Policy Optimization Suggestions - Experts suggest expanding the coverage of tax refund stores, lowering the threshold for refunds, and increasing cash refund limits to further stimulate consumption [4][5]. - The "immediate refund" model enhances the shopping experience by allowing tourists to receive refunds at the point of sale, thus facilitating additional spending [5]. Group 5: Future Directions for Tax Refund System - There is a call for establishing a regional tax refund alliance to enhance convenience for tourists across different shopping areas [6]. - Recommendations include expanding the physical coverage of the "immediate refund" system to include airports and key tourist sites, as well as creating a flexible product list to adapt to changing consumer preferences [7][8].

21世纪经济报道记者周慧 北京报道 "五一"假期，以家电、家居为代表的商品消费增长势头良好，以餐饮文旅为代表的服务消费保持较高人 气。 "五一"假期，不少消费者选择了通过以旧换新政策补贴购买大件家居、家电商品。 "五一"期间，商务部重点监测零售企业家电、汽车、通讯器材销售额同比分别增长15.5%、13.7%和 10.5%。商务部重点监测电商平台智能家居产品销售额同比增长超20%。其中，以旧换新备受欢迎。从 2025年初至5月5日0时，汽车以旧换新补贴申请量突破300万份；消费者购买12大类家电以旧换新产品 5516万台，购买手机等数码产品4167万件。 除了商品消费，服务消费在假期持续升温，餐饮、文旅市场红火。据文化和旅游部数据中心测算，假期 5天全国国内出游3.14亿人次，同比增长6.4%；国内游客出游总花费1802.69亿元，同比增长8.0%。另据 商务大数据监测，假期全国重点监测餐饮企业销售额同比增长8.7%。 5月6日，在北京经营着6家餐厅的北平三兄弟涮肉联合创始人梁丽告诉21世纪经济报道记者，今年"五 一"假期餐厅的客流量都很高，销售额是平时的2倍，平时一天销售额5万元的店，"五一"期间一天销售 额 ...

Core Insights - The "May Day" holiday in China saw a significant surge in cultural and tourism consumption, driven by government policies optimizing the outbound tax refund system, which invigorated spending by inbound tourists and promoted Chinese goods abroad [1][3]. Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - The cross-border tourism market in China is experiencing a "dual-direction" trend, with inbound tourism showing explosive growth since 2025 [3]. - A recent report indicated that inbound travel orders on a major tourism platform increased by 173% year-on-year during the "May Day" holiday [3]. Group 2: Tax Refund Policy Enhancements - The newly implemented tax refund policy has lowered thresholds and broadened coverage, enhancing the appeal of "reverse purchasing" for inbound travelers [6]. - The policy allows travelers to obtain tax refunds through credit card pre-authorization, eliminating the need to queue upon departure, thus improving efficiency [6]. Group 3: Retail and Shopping Experience - More stores, including those selling local specialties and souvenirs, have been added to the tax refund system to attract foreign tourists [8]. - In Shenzhen, over 400 tax refund stores are now available, particularly in shopping districts and major shopping centers, with centralized refund points to streamline the process [8]. Group 4: Enhanced Consumer Experience - China is actively refreshing consumption scenarios to provide diverse experiences for foreign visitors, including the "Shopping in China" series of events that integrate shopping, tourism, culture, sports, and health [12]. - Various promotional activities and food events are encouraging both domestic and international consumers to explore Chinese cuisine and culture [12].

Group 1 - The relaxation of visa policies and the introduction of the "immediate refund" tax policy have significantly boosted the enthusiasm of foreign travelers for inbound tourism during the "May Day" holiday [1][2] - Jiangsu has become a popular destination for foreign tourists, with attractions such as cultural sites in Xuzhou and scenic spots in Suzhou drawing attention [1] - The shopping experience in Jiangsu, particularly in Wuxi, has been enhanced by the immediate refund policy, leading to increased foot traffic and sales in shopping centers [2][3] Group 2 - The "immediate refund" policy allows foreign travelers to process tax refunds at the point of purchase, saving time and improving the shopping experience [3] - The tax refund threshold has been lowered from 500 yuan to 200 yuan, and the cash refund limit has been increased from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, stimulating consumer spending [2][3] - The establishment of tax refund stores across multiple cities in Jiangsu has facilitated a smoother shopping experience for foreign tourists, with efforts made to provide multilingual support for tax refund instructions [3]

Group 1 - The 137th Canton Fair has attracted a record number of overseas buyers, with 224,372 attendees from 219 countries and regions, marking a historical high for the event [1] - The event is crucial for promoting international trade cooperation and economic development, as it draws numerous overseas merchants to China [1] - The Chinese government has optimized 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 - Overseas buyers have expressed appreciation for the departure tax refund policy, highlighting its importance in reducing travel costs and attracting more tourists to China [2] - Guangzhou has expanded its departure tax refund stores to 349, with over 15,000 key merchants accepting foreign cards, achieving a coverage rate of over 99.9% [2] - Various discount promotions and over 200 consumer activities have been organized in Guangzhou's major shopping districts to cater to Canton Fair attendees, enhancing the "exhibition+" effect [2] Group 3 - Many overseas buyers plan to continue shopping in Guangzhou after the fair, with some noting that prices in China, combined with the tax refund policy, can be 30%-40% cheaper than in their home countries [3]

Group 1 - The retail sales value in Hong Kong for March is estimated at HKD 30.1 billion, representing a year-on-year decline of 3.5%, although this decline is slightly narrowing [1] - The chairman of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association anticipates that after the second quarter, there may be a chance for sales to stabilize, with some months potentially recording slight increases [1] - Factors affecting April's retail performance include a low base from the previous year, increased outbound travel during the Easter holiday, and the impact of the global trade war on consumer sentiment [1] Group 2 - Approximately 30% of surveyed retailers expect an increase in sales, particularly in cosmetics, jewelry, and personal care, while 10% anticipate stable sales mainly in supermarkets and convenience stores [1] - A significant 60% of retailers expect a decline in sales, particularly in clothing, electronics, department stores, food, and furniture, with declines ranging from single to low double digits [1] - For May, the expected performance during the Labor Day holiday is anticipated to be better than regular weekends but not as strong as the previous year, with one-third of retailers expecting increases mainly in cosmetics and health foods [1] Group 3 - The chairman highlights two major economic factors impacting Hong Kong retail: concerns over the prolonged trade war affecting the stock market and economy, which could weaken consumer purchasing power [1] - The optimization of the outbound tax refund policy in mainland China is expected to increase the burden on Hong Kong's retail sector, potentially attracting more consumers from the mainland [2] - Retailers in Hong Kong are urged to transform, innovate new products, enhance services, and create new shopping experiences to adapt to the changing market conditions [2]