A tourist from Zambia uses the departure tax refund service at a shopping mall in Hangzhou. [Photo provided to Tide News]

Departure tax refund sales in Zhejiang province rose 340.27 percent year-on-year during the Spring Festival holiday, as expanded visa-free policies boosted inbound tourism.

From Feb 15 to 23, sales of tax-refunded goods rose sharply compared with the same holiday period last year.

By the end of 2025, Zhejiang had 869 departure tax refund stores, including 448 offering instant tax refunds that allow eligible shoppers to receive rebates immediately after purchase. Total annual sales of tax-refunded goods and total refund amounts both increased 119.77 percent year-on-year in 2025.

Tax authorities have coordinated with commerce as well as culture and tourism departments to expand participating stores and streamline procedures.

Data show that from Feb 15 to 22, foreign arrivals at Zhejiang ports rose 18.9 percent year-on-year. At Hangzhou International Airport, the number of departure tax refund transactions and total refund amounts increased 219.2 percent and 44.7 percent, respectively, over the same period.