You can read the full submission here
Webinar: Make your submission to bring back tax-free shopping in the Spring Budget
You can watch the recording and read the summary here.
Giving oral evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
14th November 2023 CEO Paul Barnes gave evidence to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee about the impact of ending tax-free shopping. Here he covers issues including the growth potential of the international visitor sector for the UK, the positive net impact on the exchequer, the new shopping-led EU market worth £12 bn, Watch the key clips of the … Read More
AIR Demonstrated to the Treasury the Urgent Need for a Review of Tax-Free Shopping
AIR met Treasury and HMRC officials to discuss our impact report submission, focussing on understanding Treasury forecast methodology. We look forward to continuing our constructive working relationship with the Treasury as the campaign proceeds. You can see AIR’s evidence here.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A perverse tax that is stunting UK growth
04.25.23 There are few issues on which Labour, the Liberal Democrats and nearly all Conservatives are in passionate unison. The folly of axing VAT-free shopping for tourists is one.Such disparate political figures as ex-PM Liz Truss, London mayor Sadiq Khan and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey are backing the Mail’s campaign to reverse this perverse and damaging decision. And at a testy … Read More
Luxury leather brand Ettinger says tourist tax discourages foreign visitors from splurging cash in Britain
Mail Emily Hawkins 04.24.23 Many tourists visiting the UK for the Coronation will be deterred from splashing out due to a lack of VAT-free shopping, the boss of luxury brand Ettinger has warned. Ettinger has been producing leather products such as wallets, briefcases and passport holders since Gerry Ettinger founded the business in 1934. Now his son Robert is worried that visitors … Read More
MPs from all parties call for tourist tax to be axed as Liz Truss and Sadiq Khan claim the fee puts Britain at a ‘competitive disadvantage’ with rest of Europe
Mail 04.24.23 A cross-party group of politicians joined forces tonight to back the Mail’s campaign to bring back tax-free shopping for tourists. Former prime minister Liz Truss led a growing clamour of calls from MPs demanding ministers restore the VAT refund for visitors to boost economic growth. She was joined by Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who said … Read More
Tourist spending down by third as wealthy overseas visitors shun UK over shopping tax imposed by Rishi Sunak when he was Chancellor
Mail Emily Hawkins 03.11.23 Italy and Spain are much closer to seeing a return to 2019 levels of tourist spending, while in France they are already spending more. Paul Barnes, head of the Association of International Retail (AIR), said other cities would be ‘rubbing their hands with glee’ over the figures. American and Middle Eastern tourists in particular have returned to rival cities … Read More
London fears losing luxury shoppers to Paris and Milan
Reuters James Davey and Sarah Young 03.15.23 London’s luxury retailers fear the city is losing its pull as a shopping destination, with tourists from the United States, China and the Gulf flocking instead to Paris and Milan where tax breaks still offer a way to cut the cost of their purchases. With finance minister Jeremy Hunt set to present the government’s budget … Read More
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