China to triple tax refund stores to boost inbound tourism

By Hoang Vu May 26, 2025 | 04:38 pm PT

Tourists walk at a shopping street in Beijing, China, April 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

China aims to increase the number of tax refund stores to around 10,000 by the end of this year, nearly three times the current number as part of efforts to attract more foreign tourists.

The world's second largest economy had over 3,700 tax refund stores nationwide by the end of 2024, an increase of more than 600 from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Commerce, as cited by China Daily.

The government previously announced plans to improve tax refund policies for international travelers, Reuters reported.

To make shopping more appealing to visitors, China will expand the presence of tax refund stores in commercial districts, tourist attractions, airports, and hotels.

The minimum refund point for one overseas traveler in the same tax-refund shop on the same day will be lowered to 200 yuan (US$27.45) from 500 yuan as previously applied, according to a statement released jointly by the commerce ministry and other departments.