Chongqing - Chongqing's departure tax rebates surged nearly fivefold in Q1 2025 compared to last year, according to the Chongqing Municipal Taxation Bureau on April 18.

Travelers check in at the international flight counter at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)

The rise in departure tax rebates, which allows travelers to reclaim value-added tax (VAT) on purchases, follows China's enhanced 240-hour visa-free transit policy, drawing more international tourists to the city.

Data from Chongqing Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station shows that foreign visitors to Chongqing increased by nearly 50% in the first quarter of 2025, with nearly 140,000 inbound and outbound travelers.

At Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, over 44,000 foreign travelers used the visa-free policy in the first quarter, making up 70% of total foreign arrivals. This marks a threefold increase from the same period last year. The top five countries with the most arrivals were Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea.

The enhanced visa policies are also contributing to a surge in foreign tourists' consumption. On April 8, the State Administration of Taxation launched a nationwide "immediate tax refund" service initiative, allowing foreign travelers to receive tax refunds directly at stores. Chongqing introduced its "immediate tax refund" pilot program in January 2024, enabling tourists to claim tax refunds at the point of purchase, encouraging further shopping.

Starlight 68 Plaza, one of the first pilot stores, hosted Bogdanov Viktor from Russia, who purchased a handbag worth 3,000 yuan (about USD 411). After receiving a tax refund of over 250 yuan, he continued his shopping spree, buying tea and silk as gifts for his family back in Russia. "The process was simple and fast," Viktor said. 

"We've implemented clear signage and process descriptions for the tax refund procedure and employed two foreign-language staff to assist international shoppers,” said Ou Xiang, commercial director of Starlight 68 Plaza. Since becoming a departure tax rebate store in 2018, the mall has processed 93 refunds, totaling 125,000 yuan.

Chongqing now has 92 departure tax refund stores, including three "immediate tax refund" pilot locations. Lan Tingyi, Director of the Export Tax Refund Service and Administration Bureau of the Chongqing Municipal Taxation Bureau, confirmed that more stores are being added.