Bahrain-based Kanoo Travels and Premier Tax Free, Europe’s major tax free shopping provider, said they have further extended their downtown VAT refund partnership to include the United Kingdom.

The tax free shopping concept allows non-European residents to pay less for purchases made within the European Union. UK legislation stipulates that tourists must spend more than £30 in one store and on the same day, in order to become eligible for a VAT refund.

They then receive a VAT refund voucher at the point of sale and are required to present their goods to customs upon leaving the EU.

With VAT currently at 17.5 per cent in the United Kingdom and due to increase to 20 per cent in 2011, this equates to significant savings for visitors from the GCC, Middle East, North Africa and beyond.

Available initially from within two Kanoo Foreign Exchange branches located in the Haymarket and Knightsbridge areas of London, this new service allows tourists to receive their VAT refunds in cash with real ease and efficiency, said a statement from Kanoo, one of the largest independent, family owned group of companies in the Gulf.

Thanks to the collaboration between Kanoo Foreign Exchange Services and Premier Tax Free, tourists visiting London can receive an instant VAT refund from one of two city centre branches on the day of purchase prior to going to airport customs, it added.

“Following the successful launch of our expanded VAT refund service within the prestigious Printemps Department Store in Paris earlier this summer, it made perfect sense to extend similar facilities to those visiting London,' explained Nabeel Kanoo, senior general manager of Kanoo Travel.

'Until now, most customers have had to obtain their cash refunds at the airport, adding to the time spent there,' he pointed out.

'Kanoo and Premier Tax Free aim to make Tax Free Shopping all that more enjoyable and easy, by offering refunds in cash at city centre locations. Our aim is that customers will spend more of their time enjoying shopping and visiting London, rather than additional time at airports,' he added.

The Kanoo Foreign Exchange branches in the Haymarket and Knightsbridge are conveniently located close to the main tourist and shopping areas of London, including the well known luxury department store Harvey Nicols.

In addition, Kanoo offers a full foreign exchange service enabling tourists to receive their refund in the currency of their choice.

Premier Tax Free offers tax free shopping in partnership with over 10,000 luxury retail outlets throughout the U.K. and over 3,000 in London alone.

Kanoo and Premier Tax Free said they plan to further extend this service to customers next summer, to include new cities and new refund destinations in the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service