Scrap the hated city tax to give the High Street a much-needed boost, says jeweler Pandora
Scrap the hated city tax to give the High Street a much-needed boost, says jeweler Pandora
Pandora said doing away with the tourist tax would be a salve for the High Street as it combats the cost of living crisis and train strikes.
Rasmus Brix, the jeweller’s general manager for the UK and Ireland, said the company was ‘missing out’ with the lack of VAT-free shopping for visitors to the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure to reintroduce the tax break, which he abolished in 2021.
Tax bill: Rasmus Brix, managing director for the UK and Ireland at Pandora, said the charm bracelet manufacturer ‘got out’ due to the lack of VAT-free shopping for visitors to the UK
More than 350 business leaders have supported the Mail’s Scrap the Tourist Tax campaign.
Brix told The Mail that removing the tax could “provide a significant boost to retail and the economy as a whole.” He added it would help offset “some of the disruption we’re seeing due to the weather, the cost of living and ongoing train strikes.”
If tourists could benefit from a 20 percent refund on their purchases, they would spend more on their average purchase and opt for more expensive jewelry, he said.
Pandora said global sales were 5 percent higher between April and June than a year earlier.