Shenzhen opens its first hotel-based departure tax refund center ahead of APEC

Overview

According to the Shenzhen municipal government, the city's first hotel-based departure tax refund center has opened at Hotel Kapok Shenzhen Bay, and the first refund was processed there on September 15, 2026. The city government reported on the new service on September 16. The center accepts refund applications from overseas visitors for purchases made at participating stores anywhere in the city, regardless of where the goods were bought.

Background

China operates a departure tax refund system under which overseas visitors can claim back value-added tax on goods bought at participating stores when they take the goods out of the country. In recent years, an "instant refund" model that lets visitors receive the refund at the time of purchase has also been expanding. Shenzhen will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 18 to 19, 2026, and has been improving its services for overseas visitors. On September 10, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) announced that the APEC CEO Summit would be held in Shenzhen from November 17 to 18, with about 1,000 government and business representatives from APEC economies expected to attend. Expanding the tax refund network is seen as one of the steps to raise the city's international service standards ahead of major international meetings. Shenzhen is also expanding its international air network. According to the city government, it now has 63 international passenger routes to nearly 40 countries and regions, and China Southern Airlines launched a new route from Shenzhen to Surabaya, Indonesia, on September 15. Together, a wider route network and better consumer services are expected to attract more overseas business travelers and tourists.

Key Points

• Refunds at the hotel: The center at Hotel Kapok Shenzhen Bay processes refund applications for purchases made at participating stores across the city, wherever the purchases took place.
• Multiple payout options: Refunds can be paid to six major international bank card networks or to third-party platforms such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.
• Instant refund: After signing an agreement and pre-authorizing a credit card, eligible visitors receive a cash prepayment in RMB for the full refund amount at the point of purchase rather than at departure.
• Wider network: Shenzhen's refund network now covers border checkpoints, commercial districts and exhibition venues, and has now been extended to hotels.
• APEC support: Tax authorities plan to station refund agents at hotels hosting foreign guests attending APEC events.

The government announcement did not give numerical conditions such as the minimum purchase amount, nor any statistics on usage so far.

Implications for Japan-Shenzhen Exchange

For Japanese business travelers and tourists visiting Shenzhen, being able to claim refunds at their hotel may reduce the burden of completing procedures at the airport or border checkpoints when leaving. Shenzhen is connected to Hong Kong by land, and many visitors enter and leave through checkpoints, so spreading refund services across more locations is likely to be convenient. Support for payouts through international card networks and mobile payments also reflects consideration for overseas visitors. As more people from Japanese companies visit Shenzhen for exhibitions and business meetings, such improvements to the consumer environment are likely to encourage stays that combine business and tourism, and Japanese retail and tourism companies are paying attention to trends in inbound consumption in Shenzhen. For Japanese-affiliated companies based in Shenzhen, hotel-based refunds may also be a practical convenience when hosting visitors from head offices or business partners in Japan.

Outlook

The city is expanding services for overseas visitors in the run-up to the APEC meeting, and refund agents are to be stationed at hotels used for APEC events. However, no announcement has been made on whether hotel-based refund centers will be extended to other facilities, or when.

From the Association

The Association will continue to follow developments in Shenzhen's services for overseas visitors and its business environment. We will keep working to share useful information with companies and organizations from Japan visiting Shenzhen and to provide opportunities for exchange.