Chinese tourists remain top tax-free spenders

Chinese tourists remain the world's top tax-free spenders in the first quarter of 2013, up 20 percent from the first quarter of last year, according to a report released by Global Blue, a leading duty-free operator.

The world's top five shoppers come from China, Russia, Indonesia, the United States and Malaysia.

Thailand ranks sixth in the world for duty-free shopping. Chinese tourists increased their spending by 38 percent in the year to the first quarter of 2013.

Chart Chirathivat, managing director of Central Embassy, a shopping complex due to open in central Bangkok later this year, said on May 9 that Asians - especially Chinese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Thais - are among the biggest spenders, citing tax-refund statistics from Global Blue.

The report also found that younger people were inclined to spend more on traveling and searching for new experiences.

"The opening of Central Embassy is not only to introduce a new shopping complex but also to bring in new luxury lifestyles to Asia, build a new landmark for Bangkok and welcome new groups of tourists to come and shop in the country, especially the Asian luxury travelers from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and India," he said.