The shopping outlet Kildare Village has reported a 127 per cent increase in tax refund sales last year. The increase came from an upsurge in visitors from outside the EU, particularly from China, which now accounts for a third of all visitors to Kildare Village.

Visitors from outside the EU are entitled to claim tax back on purchases made while they are here.

Last year spending by Chinese visitors to the outlet increased by 136 per cent, while spending from Middle Eastern visitors grew by by 123 per cent.

There was also substantial growth in sales from visitors from southeast Asia, the US, Russia and Australia.

The average spend per visitor was up by 16 per cent.

Kildare Village marketing manager Maria McGovern said the upsurge in visitor numbers contributed to "double-digit" growth at the outlet shopping centre last year, although she declined to give further figures.

Overseas visitors now account for between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of visitors to the outlet.

The series of chic outlet shopping centres are particularly popular with wealthy Chinese visitors to Europe.Kildare Village is one of the sponsors of the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival, in particular the Chinese New Year Film Festival.