Selfridges blamed the tourist tax for deterring international shoppers after sales plunged last year.
The chain, which has department stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham, highlighted the pain caused by ministers’ refusal to restore VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors.
Sales fell 7 per cent to £774.6million in the 48 weeks to January 4, with the levy – introduced in January 2021 – blamed for ‘reduced numbers of international visitors coming to the UK and shopping in Selfridges’.
More than 500 UK business leaders have backed a Daily Mail campaign to bring back tax-free shopping for foreign visitors, arguing it would encourage more tourists to come to Britain.
Sales slump: Selfridges, which has shops in London, Liverpool and Birmingham, highlighted the pain caused by ministers’ refusal to restore VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors
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