Watches of Switzerland: Tourist tax ‘biggest single frustration’ for UK retailers August 10, 2023 The government’s decision to scrap VAT-free shopping for tourists is continuing to hold UK retailers back, Watches of Switzerland has warned. Chief executive of the FTSE 250 luxury watch seller Brian Duffy told City A.M. it was “probably the biggest single frustration” for the British retail sector. “I was in Italy this weekend and the [...]
Faberge boss eggs on UK to bring back tax-free shopping to lure back wealthy tourists August 3, 2023 The boss of Faberge has joined calls for the UK to scrap the so-called ‘tourist tax’, which a new study has claimed is costing the UK over £10bn a year. Faberge chief Anthony Lindsay has urged for the return of tax-free shopping after a recent study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) [...]
It is time Britain rid itself of its entrenched tall poppy syndrome August 3, 2023 Britain has a tendency to chop down the tallest of our poppies, from growing tech businesses to promising young footballers. Some try to do that with one of our more appealing recent success stories: English wine.One recent article elsewhere said the red tasted like vimto and the good stuff was too expensive; buy French, seemed [...]
Loss of tax-free shopping costing the UK £4.1bn, say London bosses July 26, 2023 Scrapping the tourist tax could generate £4.1bn annually for the UK economy, new research suggests, as a cluster of prominent business owners call for the government to reinstate VAT shopping for international tourists. Rishi Sunak scrapped the tax which saw international shoppers able to claim 20 per cent back with their purchases. It was largely [...]
The Notebook: Neil Clifford on dyslexia, profit with purpose and the greatest American asset July 24, 2023 Where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s Neil Clifford, chief executive of London luxury brand Kurt Geiger Profit with purpose is keeping us on the right track I left school in 1983 with a single qualification to my name: an O-level in art. I was dyslexic, but I didn’t find that out until years [...]
The tourist tax is hurting Britain, no matter what Rishi Sunak says July 7, 2023 Tourists pay an extra 20 per cent for shopping in London than in Paris or Milan.
Legoland owner Merlin surges back to profit thanks to tourism and staycations June 30, 2023 The return of tourists and families enjoying staycations has propelled sales and earnings for the owner of Legoland and Thorpe Park. Merlin Entertainments, which is one of the world’s biggest operators with more than 140 attractions, theme parks and resorts, said it had millions more visitors last year. The multinational group saw its revenues surge [...]
Brands in London “suffering”: Fresh calls to scrap ‘tourist tax’ amid Mulberry losses June 28, 2023 Fresh calls have been made to reinstate VAT-free shopping for international tourists, after the chief of Mulberry warned its profits have been hit hard by it as they ditch London for Paris and Milan. Pre-tax profit at the British handbag maker fell to £13.2m in the year to April, down from £21.3m the prior year. [...]
The Notebook: Sir Rocco Forte on the hated tourist tax, counteracting climate hysteria and Boris Johnson’s legacy June 26, 2023 The Notebook is a column where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s hotel industry giant Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels My hotels in Italy, Germany and Belgium are booming. But occupancy in London is not what it was last year nor what we saw pre-pandemic. Official statistics bear this out, showing [...]
The Notebook: Neil Bennett on scale-up funding, bounce-back Britain and a Love Supreme June 14, 2023 Roll up, roll up ladies and gentlemen for the greatest sale on earth, a once in a generation opportunity to snap up corporate assets at unrepeatable prices. If you don’t, my (imaginary) new investment firm, Car Boot Capital, will certainly do so. It is a truth universally acknowledged that we are living through a liquidity [...]