Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Brexit, an Opportunity Worth at Least €2.6 Billion for European Retailers

By: Global Blue via Business Wire

May 11, 2021 at 08:08 AM EDT

Following Brexit, British tourists are now eligible for Tax Free Shopping in the EU and as a result are expected to account for €1.1billion of Tax Free Shopping sales in European stores

In parallel, following the abolition of the UK’s Tax Free Shopping scheme in January, international shoppers who used to shop Tax Free in the UK are expected to reallocate at least €1.5billion of their shopping budget to alternative destinations such as France and Italy for their next shopping trip

In its latest quarterly ‘Observatory’ report, Global Blue (NYSE: GB) has examined the potential impact of recent changes to Tax Free Shopping legislation in the UK on international shopper behaviour in Europe. The report includes findings of surveys amongst international shoppers¹ and UK travellers².

With the gradual reopening of UK borders and their new eligibility to shop Tax Free in the EU, UK residents represent a new opportunity for European retailers

With the reopening of the UK borders planned after 17^th May 2021, UK tourists are eager to return to travel and spending in Europe. 65% of them intend to travel abroad this year. Affluent tourists³ are the most likely to start travelling again soon, with 35% planning to travel during this summer’s holidays, versus 25% on average.

For summer 2021, their preferred destinations are influenced by sanitary conditions in relation to Covid-19, and are expected⁴ to be:

Spain (30%), + 12pt vs 2019
Greece (11%), + 7pt vs 2019
Italy (9%), + 4pt vs 2019
Portugal (9%), +5pt vs 2019
France (6%), -5pt vs 2019

However, preferred destinations are likely to evolve now that the UK Government’s ‘red, amber and green lists' are now official. Portugal is on the green list, while Spain, Greece, Italy and France remain on the amber one.

As of 1^st January 2021, UK tourists are no longer considered as residents of the EU and are therefore now eligible for Tax Free Shopping in European stores. With British tourists taking around 70 million trips to Europe in 2019 and representing a total spend of around £40Bn, this market offers a strong opportunity for European retailers. British residents are expected to spend approximatively €1.1billion⁵ in sales-in-store in Europe per year once post-pandemic activity has fully resumed.

Currently, only 45% of those surveyed are already aware of Tax Free Shopping, with the remaining 55% needing to be informed of their new eligibility in European stores. Overall, 60% said they are more likely to spend in shops at destination if they can claim back the VAT. They are most likely to spend on clothes and accessories (70%), wine and alcohol (45%) and perfume and cosmetics (45%).

Continental European shopping destinations will attract more international shoppers following the abolition of the Tax Free Shopping scheme in the UK

A survey of 45,000 international shoppers by Global Blue showed that following the UK’s abolition of Tax Free Shopping on 1^st January 2021, 90% of those who have shopped Tax Free in the UK over the last two years intend to choose an alternative destination for their next shopping trip, despite a large number of them still considering visiting the UK. Indeed, international shoppers visit 2.6 countries on average when coming to Europe and therefore have a choice of where to shop.

Overall, international shoppers are expected to reallocate at least €1.5billion of their shopping budget to alternative destinations: France is expected to attract the largest portion of these shoppers (40%), followed by Italy (30%), Germany (10%) and Spain (10%).

Mathieu Grac, VP Intelligence at Global Blue comment: “The new rules resulting from Brexit and the abolition of the Tax Free Shopping scheme in the UK have created a large opportunity for EU retailers to capture more business from international shoppers in the coming years. To realise this potential, it is important for the Europe’s retailers to understand the profiles of the new shoppers that will be coming into their stores and ensure that they can cater to their specific set of expectations.”

ABOUT GLOBAL BLUE

For more information: globalblue.com/corporate

¹ Based on a survey at the end of 2020 of ~45,000 international shoppers who have shopped in the UK since Sept. 2018

² Survey carried out in April 2021. 500+ answers collected from external panel of UK travellers and Global Blue’s database of UK shoppers

³ Affluent tourists are defined as those with a shopping budget of more than £1,000

⁴ Based on traveller assumption in April 2021

⁵ Global Blue and consulting firm estimates

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210511005702/en/

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACTS

Domitille Pinta – VP Group Communication

Mob: 00 33 6 11 07 52 90 – Mail: dpinta@globalblue.com

Alix Bonnet – PR & Brand Manager

Mob: 00 33 6 23 73 94 51 - Mail: abonnet@globalblue.com

About Us

Laser Focus World Membership

Magazine Subscription

Newsletter Subscription

The Daily Beam

Product Watch

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

Laser Processing Product Watch

Get Published!

Photonics Hot List

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Social Media

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

Brexit, an Opportunity Worth at Least €2.6 Billion for European Retailers

Contacts

More News