The loss of tax-free shopping for overseas tourists has hit London hard, according to figures from the New West End Company.
NWEC said that while the number of tourists to central London had recovered to match 2019 levels, spending was down by 19% – the widest the gap has been since the peak summer quarter, when spending was 31% behind visitor numbers.
The decline in spend is being blamed on the removal of tax-free incentives.
