INTERNATIONAL. In-store tax-free shopping maintained its upward trend in October, with like-for-like growth across Continental Europe and Asia Pacific climbing to +17% year-on-year.
The latest data from tourism shopping tax refund company Global Blue highlights sustained performance in Continental Europe for international shopping, while tax-free spending growth in Asia Pacific has started to slow.
In Continental Europe, issued sales in store increased +12% year-on-year last month, largely driven by a +14% rise in the number of shoppers. The growth was partially offset by a -2% dip in average spend per shopper, reflecting the effects of slowing inflation.
Across origin markets, growth in tax-free spend among most nationalities was notably strong, with GCC shoppers recording the highest increase at +29%, Mainland Chinese shoppers at +15% and US shoppers at +10%.
In terms of destination markets, Spain posted the sharpest increase at +21%, followed by Italy with +15% growth. France also showed signs of recovery, with tax-free spend returning to pre-Olympic levels, up +10%.
Issued sales in-store across Asia Pacific climbed +29% last month, bolstered by a +32% rise in the number of shoppers, despite a -2% drop in average spend per shopper.
This strong performance marks a notable acceleration from the +19% recorded in September, mainly due to the yen’s weakening against the Chinese renminbi.
Growth across origin markets maintained its momentum, with Mainland Chinese tax-free spend leading at +50%, driven by a +76% increase in shopper numbers, particularly during the Golden Week period in Japan and Singapore.
Northeast Asia saw a +17% rise in tax-free spend, while Hong Kong and Taiwan experienced a -2% decline. ✈
