Beijing's neighbor launches overseas tourists tax refund

Beijing's neighbor, Hebei province, started refunding tax to overseas tourists on Tuesday to boost inbound tourism to the northern province.

Overseas tourists can obtain VAT (Value Added Tax) rebates at three ports of departure on purchases from 46 designated shops in the province, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Finance.

The ports are Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport in Hebei's provincial capital Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao Beidaihe Airport and Qinhuangdao Port in the province's coastal city Qinhuangdao.

Overseas tourists who stay on the Chinese mainland for fewer than 183 days can claim back 11 percent of the payment on goods bought at the designated stores.

The minimum purchase for the rebate is 500 yuan ($79) at one store in one day spent by one tourist. The refund is valid when the purchase is made within 90 days before departure.

A total of 324 goods items, including clothes, shoes, jewelry and appliances, are on the list allowed for tax refund.

China's departure tax refund policy was first launched in Hainan province in 2011. By the end of 2017, more than 20 provinces or cities in the country had started the policy, said Wang Xiaoxuan, head of the Taxation Administration Bureau of the Hebei Provincial Department of Finance.

Hebei is famous for artworks and artifacts among overseas tourists, such as cloisonne, paper-cuttings, and acrobatics props.

The province received 1.6 million overseas tourists last year. The number of overseas tourists to Hebei has increased by about 7 percent year-on-year since 2016, according to the Hebei Tourism Development Committee.