Core Insights - The inbound tourism market in China is experiencing a significant recovery, with a notable increase in foreign visitors and a shift towards smaller cities for travel experiences [1][3][7] - The implementation of visa-free policies for multiple countries has acted as a catalyst for this growth, leading to a surge in tourist numbers and spending [4][5] - The demand for customized and small group tours is rising, reflecting changing preferences among international travelers [2][3][11] Group 1: Market Trends - The number of foreign tourists booking flights to China has increased, with 144 cities seeing a rise in bookings, particularly in third-tier cities [1][7] - The proportion of small group and customized tours has significantly increased, with travelers preferring shorter, tailored experiences [2][3] - European tourists are becoming a larger segment of the inbound market, with many visiting for the first time due to favorable visa policies [3][4] Group 2: Economic Impact - In the first half of 2025, Beijing received 246.7 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%, with tourism spending reaching $32 billion, up 51.3% [3][5] - The implementation of tax refund policies has led to a substantial increase in the number of tax refund transactions and sales at refund stores [5] - The potential for inbound tourism to contribute to China's GDP is significant, with current levels at 0.5% compared to 1-3% in other major countries [5] Group 3: Service and Infrastructure Development - The tourism industry is facing challenges such as payment system compatibility for foreign visitors and a shortage of qualified tour guides [10][11] - Initiatives like the "BEIJINGPASS" are being introduced to enhance the travel experience by integrating various transportation services [10] - The industry is evolving with a focus on improving service quality and adapting to the needs of international tourists, including language support and cultural education [11]

Core Insights - The number of tax refund stores in China has exceeded 7,200, with a 186% year-on-year increase in the number of people enjoying tax refunds, and a 94.6% and 93.2% increase in sales and tax refund amounts respectively [1] - The trend of international tourists traveling to China with empty suitcases for shopping has gained popularity, with many foreign netizens expressing excitement about this phenomenon [1] - China's shopping paradise status is reinforced by a wide range of products available, from traditional crafts to the latest electronics, attracting more foreign tourists [1] Group 1: Policy and Economic Impact - China has been expanding its visa-free entry policies and improving shopping tax refund policies, significantly boosting international travelers' shopping enthusiasm [2] - As of July, China has implemented comprehensive visa exemptions with 29 countries, unilateral visa exemptions for 46 countries, and 240-hour transit visa exemptions for 55 countries, facilitating easier access for foreign tourists [2] - The optimization of tax refund policies includes lowering the minimum spending threshold, increasing cash refund limits, and allowing immediate VAT refund applications at retail locations [3] Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Trends - The shopping preferences of foreign tourists have shifted from traditional items like silk and tea to high-value products such as drones and smart wearable devices [5] - The convenience of China's digital payment systems allows foreign tourists to easily link their overseas bank cards, enhancing their shopping experience [5] - The implementation of technology in tax refund processes has improved efficiency, with a 40% increase in processing speed for tax refunds [5] Group 3: Tourism Growth and Market Positioning - The influx of foreign tourists has stimulated demand in various sectors, including retail, hospitality, and tourism services, contributing to overall economic growth [6] - The number of inbound travelers has increased significantly, with 38.05 million foreign visitors recorded in the first half of the year, a 30.2% year-on-year increase [8] - The rise in ticket bookings for less popular cities indicates a diversification in tourist destinations, with a notable increase in interest from countries like Vietnam and Indonesia [9]

Core Viewpoint - The collaboration between Bank of China Shaanxi and Sichuan branches enables a cross-regional "immediate refund" tax refund service for overseas tourists, enhancing consumer experience and stimulating inbound consumption [1] Group 1: Service Implementation - The "immediate refund" tax refund service allows overseas tourists shopping in either Sichuan or Shaanxi to choose where to process their refunds [1] - This service is guided by the State Taxation Administration of Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces, indicating a coordinated effort between local tax authorities [1] Group 2: Economic Impact - The new service model is expected to effectively boost cultural and tourism consumption in both provinces and surrounding areas [1] - It aims to expand the effects of the "immediate refund" policy, optimizing the shopping experience for international visitors [1] Group 3: Regional Cooperation - The geographical and cultural ties between Sichuan and Shaanxi are highlighted, with the opening of the Xicheng High-speed Railway facilitating easier travel and cooperation in cultural tourism [1]

Core Insights - The popularity of "China travel" and "China shopping" continues to rise, with a notable increase in the number of overseas travelers shopping in China and benefiting from tax refund policies [1][2] Group 1: Tax Refund Policy and Its Impact - The number of tax refund stores in China has significantly increased, surpassing 7,200, with a 186% year-on-year growth in the number of people enjoying tax refunds [1] - Tax refund sales and amounts have also seen substantial growth, with sales up by 94.6% and refund amounts up by 93.2% year-on-year [1] - The introduction of the "immediate refund" policy in Dalian has shown promising results, with expectations of over 10% sales growth for local businesses [3] Group 2: Expansion of Tax Refund Stores - Major brands like Huawei and DJI are preparing to apply for tax refund store registration, indicating a growing interest in the tax refund policy among high-profile retailers [4] - In Beijing, 40% of the 1,500 tax refund stores are domestic brands, showcasing a strong local flavor in the tax refund shopping experience [4] - Shanghai has established a network of over 1,400 tax refund stores, processing refunds for over 80,000 travelers from 174 countries this year [5] Group 3: Innovations in Tax Refund Processes - The "code refund" service allows travelers to complete tax refund applications online, significantly improving efficiency by over 40% [7] - Self-service machines for tax refund applications have been introduced in Shanghai, easing the pressure during peak shopping times [8] - New centralized refund points have been established in major shopping areas, allowing travelers to process refunds for multiple purchases in one location [9][10] Group 4: Enhanced Travel Flexibility - The introduction of mutual recognition of departure ports for tax refunds allows travelers more flexibility in their travel plans, enhancing the overall shopping experience [11] - New initiatives in provinces like Sichuan aim to broaden the range of departure ports for tax refunds, further facilitating smoother travel arrangements for overseas visitors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The "Buy in China" initiative has shown initial success this year, with various themed activities enhancing domestic consumption and attracting international tourists [1][2][3] Group 1: Policy and Activities - The "Buy in China" series of activities is being promoted through a combination of policies and events, aiming to enhance consumer experiences for both domestic residents and inbound tourists [2][3] - The Ministry of Commerce and other departments have optimized the departure tax refund policy to stimulate inbound consumption, with measures introduced to facilitate shopping for international tourists [3][4] Group 2: Regional Innovations - Various regions are actively launching innovative measures tailored to their unique characteristics, such as Shanghai's action plan to enhance the international consumption environment and Fujian's efforts to develop departure tax refund stores [4][5] - Shenzhen has initiated a series of "Buy in China" activities, leveraging technology to create a new consumption wave, showcasing smart consumption innovations [4][6] Group 3: Consumption Growth Metrics - During the May Day holiday, Shenzhen saw a 188% increase in inbound travel orders, generating tourism revenue of 5.432 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 40.8% [5] - In the first half of the year, Shenzhen's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 494.868 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 3.5% [6] Group 4: International Tourism Trends - The number of foreign visitors entering and exiting China has steadily increased, reaching 38.053 million in the first half of the year, a 30.2% year-on-year growth [7] - The optimization of policies, including the expansion of visa-free countries and improvements in cross-border payment systems, has enhanced the overall travel experience for international tourists [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - The State Council Information Office held a press conference on April 27 to introduce the optimization of the departure tax refund policy and the expansion of inbound consumption [1] Group 1: Policy Changes - The Director of the Goods and Services Tax Department of the State Taxation Administration, Xie Wen, announced that in 2024, the sales volume of goods eligible for departure tax refunds is expected to increase by 120% year-on-year [1] - The amount of tax refunds is projected to grow by 130% year-on-year in 2024 [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government is optimizing the departure tax refund policy to enhance inbound consumption and improve the shopping experience for foreign travelers, which is seen as a crucial step in boosting domestic consumption and promoting high-level opening-up of the economy [3][4]. Group 1: Policy Overview - The departure tax refund policy allows foreign travelers to receive a refund of the value-added tax (VAT) on goods purchased in China when they leave the country, which is a common practice internationally [3]. - Since its implementation in 2015, China has offered a significant refund rate of 11% on most goods, effectively refunding the entire VAT [4]. - The new policy aims to address issues such as the limited number of tax refund stores and the lack of diverse product offerings, proposing eight measures to enhance the shopping experience [4][5]. Group 2: Key Measures - The policy encourages the establishment of more tax refund stores in high-traffic areas such as shopping districts, tourist attractions, and airports, while relaxing the conditions for store registration [5][6]. - The minimum purchase amount for tax refunds has been reduced from 500 yuan to 200 yuan, expanding the range of eligible products to include more domestic brands and specialty items [5][6]. - The cash refund limit has been increased from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan to accommodate diverse payment preferences among foreign travelers [7]. Group 3: Market Potential - In 2024, China's total inbound traveler spending is projected to reach 94.2 billion USD, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 77.8%, indicating significant growth potential in inbound consumption [4]. - The share of inbound consumption in China's GDP is approximately 0.5%, compared to 1% to 3% in major countries, highlighting room for growth [4]. Group 4: Implementation and Efficiency - The customs authority has outlined measures to enhance the efficiency of tax refund verification, including ensuring that refund items are carried by travelers and are in unused condition [8]. - The Civil Aviation Administration of China is working to increase international flight services and improve airport facilities to better serve foreign travelers [8].

国家税务总局数据显示，政策措施实施首月，全国税务部门办理离境退税笔数同比增长116%，退 税商店销售额同比增长56%；"即买即退"业务试点推广至全国，办理数量同比增长32倍，销售额比去年 同期增长50倍；新增离境退税商店1303家，全国离境退税商店已增至5196家，为2024年底的1.4倍。 据国家税务总局货物和劳务税司有关负责人介绍，政策措施实施以来，税务总局进一步加强部门协 同，及时升级优化信息系统，加大政策宣传辅导力度，指导各地税务机关深入商圈、企业讲解政策内 容，发布覆盖14个语种的退税指南和商店指引，有力推动离境退税服务便利化水平持续提升。 新华社北京6月10日电（记者申铖）记者10日从国家税务总局了解到，优化离境退税政策实施首月 （4月27日至5月26日），全国税务部门办理离境退税笔数同比增长116%，退税商店数量明显增加，退 税金额显著增长，为吸引境外旅客来华购物、激发入境消费潜力提供积极助力。 为营造优质便捷的境外旅客来华旅游和消费环境，国家税务总局会同商务部等六部门于4月27日发 布通知，进一步优化离境退税政策和服务措施。 【纠错】 【责任编辑:吴京泽】 ...

记者16日从财政部获悉：大连市、湖北省自2025年7月1日起，按照有关规定实施境外旅客购物离境 退税政策。 离境退税，是指境外旅客离境时，对其在退税商店购买的商品退还增值税的政策。全国符合条件的 地区，经财政部、海关总署、国家税务总局备案后，均可实施离境退税政策。 财政部当日表示，大连市、湖北省根据有关规定，就其境外旅客购物离境退税政策实施方案向财政 部、海关总署和国家税务总局申请备案，经审核，予以备案。（记者王观） 【纠错】 【责任编辑:张樵苏】 ...

Core Insights - The implementation of the new tax refund policy in Shenyang has significantly increased the number of tax refund stores, enhancing the shopping experience for international travelers [3][4][6] - The policy aims to stimulate consumption and attract more foreign tourists to Shenyang, thereby boosting the local economy [5][6] Group 1: Policy Implementation - Since the introduction of the new tax refund policy, the number of tax refund stores in Shenyang has risen from 34 to 138, with a 146% increase in the number of tax refund applications [4] - The policy encourages the establishment of tax refund stores in major shopping areas, tourist attractions, and cultural sites, expanding the coverage of tax refund services [3][4] Group 2: Consumer Experience - All 138 tax refund stores in Shenyang now offer "instant refund" services, allowing travelers to receive their tax refunds immediately after purchase [5][6] - The process for obtaining tax refunds has been streamlined, making it easier for international travelers to complete their transactions [5][6] Group 3: Economic Impact - The reduction of the minimum purchase amount for tax refunds to 200 yuan has incentivized more foreign travelers to shop, particularly for cultural and specialty products [6] - The new tax refund policy is expected to enhance Shenyang's international appeal and contribute to high-quality economic development [6]