The Ministry of Commerce will take a series of measures to boost consumption among inbound travelers, including the expansion of departure tax refund shops and offering guidance to local governments in carrying out the "Shopping in China" campaign.
According to He Yongqian, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Commerce, in the first six months of the year, more than 19 million foreign tourists entered China, a 30 percent year-on-year increase.
The number of departure tax refund shops also doubled, and the amount of tax refunded consumption surged 95 percent year one year, the spokeswoman said.
With an increasing number of global travelers discovering the wide-ranging consumption options available in China, the ministry will spare no efforts to encourage more tourist spending, she emphasized.
"Firstly, China will cultivate and build a world-class consumer environment. To this end, China will accelerate the development of some certain cities to become international consumer centers and, in conjunction with relevant departments, conduct pilot projects for building the international consumer environment. Secondly, China will promote the detailed implementation of the departure tax refund policy. We will optimize the distribution of tax refund shops according to local conditions, enrich product offerings, and enhance service levels," said He.
"Thirdly, the ministry will guide local governments to continuously carry out campaigns under the theme of 'Shopping in China', organize more consumption promotion activities, and innovate consumer scenarios that integrate commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and health. This will allow more foreigners and Chinese residents to experience the unique charm of 'shopping in China' together," she added.
China to encourage shopping tourism by fostering int'l consumer environments
