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Young tourists are driving Italy’s tax-free shopping market.

Jul 15 2026

Young tourists are driving Italy’s tax-free shopping market. The number of Gen Z non-EU citizens making tax-free purchases on items priced above €70 increasedby 22%, compared to just 3% growth among older consumers, according to new data from Global Blue. While Gen Z tourists—mostly from the U.S. and China—make up only 14% of tax-free shopping in Italy, a seemingly small number, it is the country where young shoppers spend the most. Shoppers tend to spend hundreds to thousands of euros on luxury items in cities like Milan, and that spending is growing significantly. Gen Z spending on watches grew by 33% compared to 6% of the overall population, while their jewelry spending rose by 19% compared to 1%, and clothing spending grew by 16% compared to 4%. (nss mag)

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