(ECNS) -- Most tourists think China's new taxation policy on cross-border e-commerce has little influence on their travel arrangements, China Youth Daily reports.
A survey conducted by Ctrip, a leading travel agency, showed that 92 percent of respondents think the new policy on cross-border e-commerce has little effect on their travel plans; only two percent of travelers suggested that it might cause them to change their arrangements.
The tax-free era of cross-border e-commerce has come to an end as a new system on sales took effect on April 8.
This new tax policy is mainly aimed at e-commerce companies, such as Tmall, JD, and Ymatou, rather than tourists, the report said.
It still allows a 5,000 yuan ($771) tax exemption per person, plus a 3,000 yuan ($462.6) duty-free allowance at ports of entry and exit, which means travelers are now enjoying more flexible non-refundable credit, it was added.
The 2015 Global Travel & Shopping Report released by www.mafengwo.cn, Headlines Today, and the Card Center at the Bank of China, showed that Chinese tourists usually spend an average of 5,830 yuan per person on purchases abroad, which means a tax exemption of 8,000 yuan can normally satisfy their shopping needs.
Since the new policy took effect on April 8, many tourists are saying bag inspections have been more common when they go through customs.
But statistics from Ctrip showed the new tax policy on cross-border e-commerce has had a limited effect on people's traveling arrangements with bookings for outbound tourism for the upcoming May Day holiday increasing by 50 to 80 percent month on month.
Therefore, experts from Ctrip think the new tax system would not have much effect on the tourism industry, which should maintain rapid growth in the long run.
