Figures today lay bare how British stores are missing out on millions of pounds from international visitors after the removal of tax-free shopping for overseas tourists.

As the campaign to scrap the hated tourist tax widens, data shows how holidaymakers are spending far more on the Continent than Britain.

European shops have enjoyed their best month for international spending since the end of the pandemic thanks to a surge in sales from Asian holidaymakers and high demand from US consumers.

Sales surged by 40 per cent month-on-month in March this year, taking them to just 21 per percent below March 2019 – the highest level in nearly three years, according to research by technology firm Planet.

It said the data highlighted the need for the UK to bring back tax-free shopping to help British retailers who are missing out.

The research also showed that France remains the most popular tax-free shopping market for Chinese shoppers, capturing 54.9 per cent of all their sales across the Continent.

Chinese tourists spent an average of 1,537 euros each on tax-free products last month, the figures showed.

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