United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
UKinbound backs Daily Mail ‘scrap the tourist tax’ campaign
UKinbound is backing a new UK campaign to ‘scrap the tourist tax.’
In an effort to pressure the government the Daily Mail has started a ‘scrap the tourist tax’ campaign to restore duty-free shopping status for overseas visitors.
They argue the 20% VAT through tourists shopping is greatly outweighed by the boost to GDP and jobs that eliminating the tax would bring.
A letter to the government was organised by Sir Rocco Forte and has been signed by UK tourism, retail and hospitality leaders.
Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound said: “We fully support the campaign by the Daily Mail to reinstate VAT free shopping for international visitors.”
“It would generate and estimated £4.4 billion over two years for the UK economy with a net benefit to the Treasury of £1.3 billion (source: Oxford Economics).”
“This is a measure that is badly needed to help the recovery of the UK’s inbound visitor economy.”
“It will go some way to improving this country’s competitive positioning against our European neighbours.”
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel