Telegraph30/09/20 Paul Barnes, chief executive of the Association of International Retail, criticised the decision to scrap tax-free shopping. “Making the UK the only European country not to offer [it] to international visitors sends totally the wrong message to the world. And it needlessly damages the UK’s retail, tourism and manufacturing industries, already struggling to survive Covid-19,” Read the full article … Read More
End of VAT refunds would deter Chinese UK visitors
China Daily25/09/20 Paul Barnes chief executive of the Association of International Retail said: “Chinese visitors are by far the biggest international shoppers in the UK and shopping is the main reason they visit. If Britain ends its tax-free scheme, Chinese travellers are much more likely to visit any other European country for shopping. At a time when the British tourism … Read More
Retailers On Collision Course With U.K. Treasury Over Abolition Of Tax-Free Shopping
Forbes23/09/20 The Association of International Retail (AIR) says that one reason the U.K. government is dropping tax-free shopping is that the current paper-based validation system used by the tax department, HMRC, would not be able to manage VAT refunds once they become available to EU tourists from January. EU travellers account for 70% of all U.K. visitors. AIR’s CEO Paul … Read More
AIR’s long briefing
You can read the long briefing here.
AIR short briefing
You can see AIR’s short briefing here.
VAT change ‘will cost Edinburgh £90m’ and could affect 1800 jobs
The National22/09/20 Paul Barnes: “The Government’s decision to eradicate tax free shopping in the UK will impact Britain’s reputation and appeal as a global shopping destination, providing further damage to our struggling economy. Outside of London, Edinburgh is a key tourist attraction for visitors, proven in the growing number of international flights to Edinburgh airport. The removal of tax free … Read More
Boris Johnson shows why he’s bad for business, jobs and the economy – Angus Robertson
Edinburgh Evening News22/09/20 According to the Association of International Retail, nearly a fifth of the £22bn spent in UK by international tourists was in Edinburgh. Read the full article here.
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
Ending VAT-free shopping ‘will hit UK tourism and retail’
The BBC20/09/20 The Association of International Retail (AIR), which co-wrote the letter, urged the chancellor to “look again at this devastating decision”. Read the full article here.
AIR sends letter to the Chancellor
You can see the AIR letter to the Chancellor signed by 21 senior CEOs across the UK, arranged by AIR here.
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