Guilin hopes to cash in on tax rebate plan

Nearly 2 million trips were made by overseas travelers to Guilin in 2013, up 6.2 percent year-on-year. The tourists contributed 5.4 billion yuan to the city's revenue, according its tourism bureau.

Xiang Huiling, another NPC deputy from Guangxi who works with the labor union in Guilin, said the city has adopted a series of measures to boost its tourism sector.

She said the city government regards tourism as a pillar for the local economy and that, last year, the local tourism authority staged promotional events in Hong Kong and Taiwan and will introduce helicopter tours in the near future.

But for those who want to flash their cash, Guilin may not be so tempting.

"I hate to say this," Xiang said, "but for our visitors, the most popular goods are local snacks, fruits as well as rice wines, because we can't offer them other choices than these."

But she said the tax-refund policy may inject momentum into the city's handicraft and souvenir businesses and spur a local goods industry that has more added value.

Along with Guilin, the capital city of Beijing is also planning to give tax refunds to foreign visitors, according to earlier reports.