Jeremy Hunt confronted a contemporary backlash from business chiefs over his ‘loopy’ so-called vacationer tax.
Opposition is rising amongst bosses from the retail business to motels, bars and eating places over the elimination of VAT-free purchasing for worldwide vacationers.
Within the newest intervention, the boss of Bicester Village, above, renewed warnings that Hunt’s tax is driving customers away from Britain to European rivals.
‘No progress’: The boss of Bicester Village (pictured) renewed warnings that Hunt’s tax is driving customers away from Britain to European rivals
James Lambert, who arrange the Oxfordshire luxurious purchasing outlet’s proprietor Worth Retail, mentioned worldwide purchasing tourism throughout Europe has seen an ‘unprecedented’ soar this yr.
However, he mentioned, there was no progress in worldwide customers visiting the UK, suggesting the 20 per cent VAT vacationers now should pay has dampened the nation’s attraction.
His intervention got here days after Kurt Geiger boss Neil Clifford warned that the tax is ‘driving guests to Paris and Milan’.
Clifford mentioned he was ‘immensely disillusioned’ when the UK gave up VAT-free purchasing for worldwide vacationers.
It was ‘loopy’ to present the inexperienced mild for British customers to journey overseas and store extra cheaply.
