China is tweaking its policy on tax free shopping again to boost tourism spending in the country.
It will lower the minimum threshold for tax refunds for foreign tourists.
Travellers will be able to apply for a tax refund when spending CNY200 (about $27) at a single store on the same day.
The minimum was previously CNY500.
The Ministry of Commerce just announced the change.
The upper limit for the tax rebate in cash was doubled to CNY20,000.
It comes after China changed rules to allow tourists to get an immediate tax refund in some cities instead of waiting until they depart the country.
This relates to some cities with well-established tourism economies.
China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said inbound tourism accounts for less than 1% of GDP.
Streamlining rules for tax free shopping could boost this, he said.
