The number of shops in China offering "instant tax refund" services for overseas visitors has exceeded 8,000, more than doubling from a year earlier when the scheme was introduced, the State Taxation Administration said on Monday, according to Xinhua.

The "instant tax refund" policy allows foreign travelers in eligible regions to receive tax rebates on the spot when purchasing goods at designated stores. After signing an agreement and completing a credit card pre-authorization, shoppers can claim a cash refund in Chinese yuan equivalent to the tax amount.

The number of processed claims nationwide surged nearly 13-fold year on year, while both tax-refunded sales and total rebate amounts rose more than ninefold, underscoring strong growth in inbound consumption.

Last year, China has introduced a range of measures to facilitate payment and shopping for foreign visitors, including allowing international bank cards to be linked to domestic mobile payment apps, enabling the use of overseas e-wallets in China.

Inbound tourism also saw strong growth in 2025. Tourist trips exceeded 150 million last year, up 17% year on year, while spending topped $130 billion, according to Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli.