FOREIGN VISITORS IMPRESSED BY EASIER SALES TAX REFUNDS

Streamlining of system a boon for tourists, domestic consumption

Anna Lanny, a 26-year-old tourist from Russia, was delighted to receive her tax refund on the spot after making purchases recently at the upmarket SKP department store in Beijing's Chaoyang district.

"It's crowded here," she said. "I bought a handbag for myself and a pair of shoes for my father, and I got cash back immediately after shopping. There is no need to complete complicated forms. It's quite convenient," she added.

On April 8, China launched a nationwide rollout of a new tax refund policy for international tourists, replacing the traditional refund-upon-departure model with a more streamlined refund-upon-purchase one. Earlier, the policy was piloted in several cities.