Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, has released its latest consumer spending insights for the 2025 summer holiday period in Egypt through the Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) Retail Spend Monitor. The findings reveal a 44% increase in total summer spending on Visa premium consumer cards compared to 2024, reflecting the continued rise of digital payments, high-value transactions, and evolving travel preferences.
Shifting Consumer Behavior This Summer
Summer spending in Egypt not only increased compared to last year but also highlighted significant changes in consumer behavior. Travel rose by 27%, both for popular international destinations and domestic staycations.
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9% of travelers started planning their trips more than three months in advance.
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13% planned within one to three months.
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A majority (78%) chose last-minute plans within a month.
Spending on dining and leisure surged 57%, while digital payments by premium cardholders expanded by 85%, representing 46% of overall summer spending.
Travel Trends: Short Escapes vs. Extended Getaways
Egyptian consumers showed interest in both short stays (under 3 days) and long trips, with longer getaways representing 66% of total travel spend, and generating higher average expenditure. European destinations—including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Greece—recorded a 54% increase in spending on short trips.
Outbound Travel
Outbound spending was highest in the UAE, France, Spain, USA, and Italy, with overall growth of 28%. Premium Visa cardholders increased their outbound summer travel spend by 28%, now representing 81% of total outbound travel spending.
Inbound Travel
Inbound spending by premium Visa cardholders from the Middle East—especially the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan—grew 35%. Visitors from Europe, led by France, Italy, and the Netherlands, recorded an even stronger 139% growth in inbound spending.
Digital and eCommerce Growth
Digital spend among premium Visa cardholders rose 85%, while eCommerce spending grew 55%, confirming a growing preference for digital-first payment methods.
“Consumers in Egypt are embracing digital payment options and experiences more than ever this summer,” said Malak El Baba, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa in Egypt. “Visa is committed to supporting these evolving preferences by providing secure and seamless payment solutions. The increase in dining and leisure spend reflects a clear shift towards convenience, trust, and elevated experiences, with Egyptians choosing digital-first ways to plan, pay, and celebrate.”
Visa’s Retail Spend Monitor, produced by Visa Consulting & Analytics, captures total retail, travel, and experience-related activity during Egypt’s summer break (July 1 – August 15), based on VisaNet data and survey-based estimates for other payment methods.
“With the regional expertise of Visa Consulting & Analytics and the scale of VisaNet, Visa empowers clients with actionable insights into evolving consumer behaviors—helping them plan strategically, respond faster to demand shifts, and unlock new growth opportunities,” added Nicolas Khoury, SVP and Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics, CEMEA.
