AIR 03.23 DCMS publishes Tourism Recovery Plan update with commitment to “explore measures to mitigate impact of ending tax-free shopping”. AIR discusses with tourism officials of need to evaluate impact in order to mitigate AIR discusses with tourism officials and raise the issue that in order to mitigate the impact, an evaluation of the impact is needed first. To read … Read More
AIR makes formal submission to Labour Party Policy Forum, promoting international visitor economy
AIR 03.23 Ahead of Labour National Policy Forum, AIR makes formal submission promoting international visitor economy. In the submission Paul Barnes, chief executive of the Association of International Retail, writes the development of technology will lead to a world where people have more wealth and more leisure time. To balance Britain’s high-tech economic development a Labour Government should recognise and encourage … Read More
AIR writes to Exchequer Secretary at HMT showing how data undermines HMT impact forecast
AIR 03.14.23 On March 10th 2023, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Cartlage replied to the Budget Submission on tax-free shopping made jointly by the Association of International Retail and UKInbound restating that the Treasury’s belief that ending tax-free shopping would have a limited behavioural effect on decisions to visit, or spend, in the UK. AIR wrote to the Minister … Read More
HMT publishes response to AIR’s Oxford Economics Report
HM Treasury 02.23 In the WPQ, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Cartlidge gave response to AIR’s Oxford Economics Report. In his response, James Cartlidge claimed the Treasury do not recognise these figures. The OBR, using a higher than usual price elasticity of demand to account for VAT-free shopping being targeted at luxury goods, put this figure at 20,000-30,000 … Read More
AIR assists London Mayor in open letter to the Chancellor calling for Tax-free shopping restoration
Sadiq Khan 01.31.23 The Mayor wrote to the Chancellor, alongside key businesses and business groups, to urge the Government to reintroduce VAT-free shopping for international visitors as soon as possible. The Mayor wrote that reintroducing the VAT Retail Export Scheme and airside tax-free shopping will help to increase the number of international tourists who visit London and the United Kingdom, … Read More
AIR launches data at Parliamentary Event – presentations by Global Blue, Harrods, Value Retail, AIR and Conservative MPs
AIR 02.23 AIR launches data at Parliamentary Event – presentations by Global Blue, Harrods, Value Retail, AIR and Conservative MPs. The first major set of industry and consumer data shows the real impact of withdrawing tax-free shopping on the behaviour of international visitors, based on actual spending by non-EU international visitors to Europe in 2022, the first full post-pandemic year. … Read More
AIR makes joint March Budget Submission with UKInbound
AIR 01.31.23 Following the submission for Novermber 2022 Budget, AIR and UKinbound asked the Chancellor to look again at requesting the Office for Budget Responsibility. To read more, please click here.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP tables Written PQs on Tax-free shopping
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP tables Written PQs on Tax-free shopping.
AIR initiates and supports House of Lords Debate on Tax-free shopping with Lord Vaizey
In the House of Lords Debate, Lord Vaizey questioned the government that what wastheir assessment of the impact on the United Kingdom economy of the abolition of tax-free shopping. For the full content, please click here.
AIR makes joint Budget Submission with UKInbound
AIR 11.03.22 On November 3rd 2022, AIR makes joint Budget Submission with UKInbound to the Chancellor. In the Budget Submission, we are writing to request that the Chancellor asks the Office of Budget Responsibility to review HM Treasury’s estimate of the costs of the scheme in light of a new report published today by Oxford Economics into the full economic … Read More