Tax-free spending flat over first nine months

Global Blue says number of VAT claims down

Tax-free spending maintained a flat performance over the first nine months of the year, inching up by just one percent year-on-year, according to data released by Global Blue Lebanon. The number of transactions for which the VAT had been claimed fell by five percent for the same period.

During the months of July, August, and September, the value of tourist spending fell by 24 percent, while the number of transactions dropped by 22 percent, year-on-year.

Tax-free spending by visitors from Saudi Arabia accounted for 18 percent of the total value spent so far this year. Spending by visitors from the UAE represented 12 percent, followed by spending from Kuwaiti visitors who represented eight percent. Spending by Syrian and Egyptian visitors represented equal shares of six percent each.

Around 73 percent of spending was for purchases of fashion and clothing items, and another 11 percent was for watches and jewelry. While Beirut captured 84 percent of spending, around 12 percent of spending was made in Metn.