Online retail boom hits international shopping numbers

Shopping overseas is losing its appeal to Chinese tourists as e-commerce companies cash in on international brand sales, a consumer survey has revealed.

Last year, outbound travelers spent just one-third of their total budget on shopping, a drop of 41 percent compared to the previous year.

Global consultancy Oliver Wyman put this down to booming online e-commerce platforms in China. They have made massive strides in cross-border internet shopping from Chanel handbags straight from France to cherries from the United States.