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 wins support of Westminster City Council which includes restoration of Tax-free shopping in its Budget Submission
Westminster City Council 02.02.23 Westminster has a key part to play in enabling the UK economy to return to a stable footing, enabling investment in public services and projects to level up the country. The faster and more prosperous the recovery is, the sooner we will be able to return to our role as an economic engine for the UK: … 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’s proposals included in DCMS’s report on “Promoting Britain Aboard”
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
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
Tax-free shopping is a simple gift for growth
Evening Standard Ed Vaizey 15.12.22 Last week, Jeremy Hunt unveiled the “Edinburgh Reforms”, with the aim of revolutionising the UK’s financial service sector, seizing the benefits of Brexit and promoting growth. Today, in the House of Lords, I will be making the case for the Chancellor to take another look at the tax-free shopping scheme as a vital growth measure. The Chancellor … Read More
Tax-free shopping deserves a second look
The Times Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown 15.11.22 When the chancellor cancelled most of the proposals in the poorly-received former Growth Plan, he calmed the markets. But he also threw away one growth measure that had been widely welcomed — the reintroduction of tax-free shopping. Restoring tax-free shopping for international visitors was set to deliver a multi-billion pound boost to Britain’s tourism, … Read More
UK executives stunned as chancellor shreds ‘pro-business’ mini-Budget
Financial Times Daniel Thomas, Jim Pickard, Oliver Barnes 17.10.22 Paul Barnes, chief executive of the Association of International Retail, said the decision to reverse plans to reintroduce VAT-free shopping for international visitors “will come as a hammer blow to UK tourism and the British high street”. To read more, click here.