The programme is live as of June 2024, and while the pilot is focused on Avolta’s Milan duty-free operations, if successful, the programme will be rolled out across its global shop network.
Tourists will need to continue to complete the standard tax refund process at the airport prior to departure.
Ameer Jumabhoy, Co-Founder of Utu, commented: “Our partnership with Avolta demonstrates the untapped potential within the travel retail ecosystem.
We believe this model can be replicated in airports worldwide, driving multi-billion dollar growth for the industry.”
According to Utu projections – based on Global Blue publicly available data – $4 billion in VAT refunds processed at airports go unclaimed each year.
Maurus Lienhard,…