China's growing list of visa-free transit policies is making it easier than ever for international tourists to visit Shanghai — and many of them are choosing Pudong New Area, not just for sightseeing, but also for shopping.

Marko Pavlovic, a tennis coach from Serbia, came to China with his team for a tournament. His club, T3 Tennis, has close ties with the GRIT Tennis Club in Pudong's Jinqiao town, leading to regular exchanges.

During his seven-day stay in Shanghai recently, Pavlovic visited the ever-popular Bicester Village Shanghai shopping village — rated by many as a top destination for the latest retail and lifestyle trends in the city — no less than twice.

Tourists flock to Bicester Village Shanghai — home to about 200 boutiques featuring renowned Asian and international fashion and lifestyle brands, all offering great savings on original retail prices. [Photo/Publicity department of the CPC Pudong New Area committee]

Describing his shopping experience, Marko used one word repeatedly — amazing.

"The environment is amazing, you can find so many brands here and the prices are amazing — much better than in Europe," he said.

He was also impressed by the convenient tax refund service: "My friend told me I could get my tax refund right here, which is super convenient. Amazing!"

Staff members at Bicester Village Shanghai assist foreign tourists with their tax refund process, making the experience hassle-free. [Photo/Publicity department of the CPC Pudong New Area committee]

Pudong is often the first stop for many international visitors to China, thanks to Shanghai Pudong International Airport — one of the top 10 airports in the world for passenger traffic. All in all, the area's ideal location is said to offer unmatched convenience.

Located just 10 kilometers from the airport, Bicester Village Shanghai takes full advantage of this. It's only two metro stops from the airport and a shuttle bus is available between the shopping village and Yuandong Avenue Metro Station, just to make visits even easier.

Pudong's appeal to international shoppers comes from more than just convenience. Comfortable shopping environments, a wide variety of international and domestic brands and high-quality services are all attracting overseas visitors.

In addition, an increasing number of tax refund stores and improved refund policies are boosting their willingness to shop there.

"At Bicester Village Shanghai, foreign tourists can now get a tax refund on purchases over 200 yuan ($27.75) in a single day," said Chen Xiaoling, general manager of Bicester Village Shanghai.

"This lower threshold encourages more shopping because it's easy to meet and makes the experience more relaxed," the general manager added.

According to Chen, during this year's May Day holiday — on May 1-5 — the number of tax refund claims at Bicester Village Shanghai reached nearly 500, a clear increase from previous years.

At another major shopping center in Pudong, Shanghai No 1 Yaohan — known for its mix of luxury beauty products and electronics — tax refund transactions rose by 14 percent in April, with the total refund amount up by 191 percent compared with last year.

From January to April, refund transactions grew by a whopping 28 percent, while refund amounts rose by 5 percent.

According to the Pudong New Area tax service of the state taxation administration, the ongoing promotion of tax refund policies and service upgrades has significantly improved tax refund activity.

The efforts are all said to be helping to create a better shopping environment for international visitors and to position Pudong as a major global shopping destination.

Source: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Pudong New Area committee at "pdnews"