Chinese tourists' shopping in Turkey surges 85% in first 7 months

ANKARA - The shopping activities of Chinese tourists in Turkey have jumped by 85 percent year-on-year in the first seven months, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Wednesday.

The Chinese visitors also accounted for 22 percent of tax-free shopping in Turkey in the same period, registering an increase of 2 percent, Selim Seyhun, head of the Global Blue Turkey, a shopping tax refund firm, was quoted as saying.

Chinese visitors have shown interest in luxury shopping, and the average spending of Chinese tourists in Turkey has exceeded 5,000 Turkish liras ($874), he added.

"For Chinese people, digital payment methods are important. If digital payment points are increased in Turkey, Chinese people's spending will be easy," Seyhun noted.

Meanwhile, global tourists raised their shopping activities in Turkey by 70 percent from January to July, the report said.

In addition, travellers from Gulf countries contributed to 24 percent of foreigners' shopping in the country in the first seven months, down from 27 percent the year before.

Global Blue is a major company that provides tax-free shopping services in many countries around the world, including Turkey.