Hainan Island to exempt taxes on imported goods

HAIKOU - Tourists to China's southern island of Hainan will soon be able to claim back taxes on imported goods they purchase there as the provincial government announced on Thursday a tax refund scheme to boost tourism and consumption.

All visitors to Hainan province aged 18 or up who depart the island by plane to another location on the mainland can apply for the refunds, but tourists flying to foreign destinations can not, said the Hainan government at a press briefing.

The scheme, which comes into effect on April 20, covers 18 types of imported items, including jewelry, handicraft, watches, perfume and cosmetics.

Visitors living outside the province can claim the tax refund twice a year, while the local residents can only claim it once.

The scheme is part of the province's plan to build the island into an international tourist destination, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement released on its website Thursday.