DCMS 24.10.22 Tourism is a cornerstone of the British economy. As one of the most popular destinations in the world, with its heritage, culture and landscape drawing millions of visitors every year, Britain is a global brand. Inbound tourism is the UK’s third largest service export, worth 9% of GDP, and is the industry on which 3.2 million jobs and … Read More
Retail’s 3 R’s: Reopening, Recovery, Resilience
DRD Partnership20/02/21 Ahead of the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday, DRD Partner and Chief Executive of the Association for International Retail (AIR), Paul Barnes, shares his insight about what’s in store for the retail and hospitality sectors in the coming weeks and months. Read the full article here.
UK to end VAT-free shopping for visitors on Jan 1
Fibre2Fashion.com22/10/20 The Association of International Retail (AIR), which co-wrote the letter, urged the chancellor to “look again at this devastating decision”. It cautioned the United Kingdom will become the only European country not to offer VAT-free shopping for international visitors. ”Madrid, Milan and Paris are rubbing their hands with glee at this self-inflicted wound,” said AIR boss Paul Barnes. ”If we charge … Read More
Marks & Spencer, Selfridges and Heathrow blast Chancellor’s plans to impose tourist tax raid
Retail Times21/09/20 Paul Barnes, CEO of the Association of International Retail, said: “The Chancellor needs to look again at this devastating decision, as it simply doesn’t add up and will lead to the loss of tens of thousands of tourism and retail jobs right across the UK. Madrid, Milan and Paris are rubbing their hands with glee at this self-inflicted wound. … Read More
Time to woo overseas shoppers
Property Week02/07/20 Open-ed by Paul Barnes, CEO of the Association of International Retail Read the full article here.