Recently, Guangzhou has increased the number of tax refund stores and expanded the variety of tax refund goods. The city has introduced departure tax refund measures that enable travelers to receive tax refunds immediately upon purchase. Currently, 349 stores in Guangzhou offer tax refund services, with 10 pilot stores implementing the instant tax refund policy.
Taikoo Hui, a shopping mall in Guangzhou, has launched a one-stop online instant tax refund service for departing tourists, with twenty-five brand stores participating in the initiative. Tourists can upload purchase details and documents via their mobile phones at these stores to complete the tax refund process instantly and receive their refunds within five minutes.
Since the 137th Canton Fair opened on April 15, the average daily number of tax refund transactions in Guangzhou has reached a record high, increasing by 1.68 times compared to the same period last year. During the Canton Fair, one of Guangzhou’s eight consumption scenarios, the Guangzhou Shopping Carnival has become a highlight, offering global buyers a rich array of procurement events and personalized inbound travel products. Under this consumption initiative, Guangzhou has launched over 200 promotional activities, featuring numerous discounts and offers at major shopping centers.
Following the introduction of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, Guangzhou has welcomed over 3 million inbound travelers, marking a year-on-year increase of 75%. Among them, 1.11 million entered visa-free, representing a 275% increase from the same period last year.
Guangzhou has enhanced payment convenience for inbound travelers, with over 15,000 key merchants supporting foreign card transactions. The city has also improved services for short-term visitors through the UnionPay Travel Pass card solution, allowing temporary visitors to register and use the card for mobile payments.