Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Numbers Increase in 2014
Countries, stores, transactions all improve

Louisiana Tax Free Shopping for International Visitors (LTFS) announced today that annual figures for 2014 showed increases in the number of stores participating in the program along with upticks in the number of countries represented and the number of overall transactions by international travelers. The program celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014 with its highest number of transactions in the post-Katrina era.

The program, begun in 1989, provides cash refunds to international visitors for sales taxes paid on tangible goods purchased from participating stores that will be removed from the state. The refunds are available from six centers located around the state including Louis Armstrong International Airport. Governor Bobby Jindal recently signed legislation waving the participation fee for Louisiana merchants, opening the program to any store wishing to be included.

There were 40,201 total tax free transactions in 2014, up from 31,295 the previous year. There was a slight decrease in the overall dollar value of purchases, $32.5 million, down from $32.7 million in 2013.  The total number of stores registering transactions was 787, up significantly from 673 year over year. A record number of stores are now offering tax free shopping due to the reduced participation fees.

A 2011 survey of international customers showed that tax free shopping is often a deciding factor in helping them choose to visit the state of Louisiana. International visitors tend to stay longer and spend more than their domestic counterparts, and the tax free shopping program has been proven to return $1.7 dollars for every $1 refunded. Customers receiving refunds have also been shown to likely spend their cash refunds with merchants in the immediate area.

148 countries were represented in 2014, up from 139 the previous year. Brazil once again topped the number of transactions, followed by China, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Germany, and Honduras.

“2014 was an amazing year for tax free shopping in Louisiana. The number of participating merchants grew significantly thanks to the act of the legislature to waive retailer participation fees,” LTFS Commission Chairman Steven Windham said. “With Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne's leadership over the Louisiana Office of Tourism we anticipate even more growth in international visitation in coming years. LTFS is proud to work with all of our partners to bring more international visitors to the state.”

The United States Office of Travel and Tourism reported 197 million international arrivals in 2014, up seven percent over the previous year. Significant increases in the number of visas issued in both Brazil and China and a decrease in wait time for visas helped boost overall tourism to the United States.
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Louisiana Tax Free Shopping offers international visitors to the state the opportunity to receive cash refunds for sales taxes paid on tangible items purchased at participating tax-free stores and permanently removed from the United States.  Visitors can apply for refunds at six locations throughout the state, including New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Bossier City, and Louis Armstrong International Airport. For more information: www.louisianataxfree.com