Julia Lo Bue-Said said the chancellor’s decision to reverse plans to reintroduce VAT free shopping for overseas tourists is a "huge knock" to small businesses in the UK who rely on the tourist pound.
"The drop in the value of the pound against both the dollar and the euro had made the UK and attractive place for tourists, especially in the run-up to Christmas, and this reversal of VAT free shopping is just another reason for tourists to take their business elsewhere," she said.
"Inevitably, when travellers are looking at where to visit, they’ll now be more inclined to look at markets like Paris and Milan to do their Christmas shopping rather than visiting the UK.
