Refund of taxes to lure visitors

Overseas tourists bound for the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region can obtain a refund for value-added taxes paid during their trip, as local authorities try to increase the lure of the region.

The refund policy will begin on Jan 1, according to the Xinjiang regional office of the State Administration of Taxation.

Fan Bingwu, head of the export and import tax management division at the office, said the new policy will increase the popularity of Xinjiang as a tourist destination.