Visa has revealed its latest report on consumer spending trends for the 2025 summer holiday period in Egypt, which is based on the Visa Consulting & Analytics Retail Spend Monitor.
The report by Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA), titled Retail Spend Monitor, highlighted retail, travel and leisure activity during the summer vacation in Egypt from July 1 to August 15. The report was based on a combination of VisaNet data, along with estimates supported by surveys of other payment methods.
The report revealed a 44 per cent increase in total summer spend using premium Visa cards compared to 2024, reflecting continued growth in digital payments and high-value transactions, as well as evolving consumer travel patterns.
In Egypt, summer spending has not only increased compared to last year, but also reflected changes in consumer behaviour. Travel to popular outbound destinations and local holidays within Egypt has increased by 27%.
The report showed that 9% of travelers started planning their trips at least 3 months ago, 13% planned their trips between one and three months ago, while 78% preferred last-minute planning in less than a month. Spending on dining and entertainment increased by 57%, while the use of digital payments among premium cardholders increased by 85%, recording 46% of total summer spending.
Consumers prefer short vacations
As for travel trends, the report showed that consumers in Egypt prefer short vacations (less than three days) and long trips, with the latter accounting for 66% of total travel spending with higher average spending. European destinations such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece also recorded a 54% increase in spending on short trips.
In terms of outbound travel, outbound spending was highest in the UAE, France, Spain, the United States and Italy, at 28 per cent. Visa premium cardholders’ summer outbound spending increased by 28 per cent, accounting for nearly 81 per cent of total outbound spending.
For those arriving in Egypt, the report revealed that spending by premium Visa cardholders from the Middle East – mainly from the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan – rose by 35%. Those from Europe, mainly from France, Italy and the Netherlands, posted stronger growth of 139%.
Digital Spending among Visa Premium Cardholders
With regard to digital payments, the report indicated that digital spending among the holders of the distinctive Visa cards had risen by 85% and that expenditure through electronic commerce in the segment had increased by 55%, reflecting increased dependence on alternative means of payment.
The Pope, Vice-President and Director General of Visa in Egypt, said: " The consumers of Egypt are increasingly moving this summer to build more than ever digital payment options and experiences, and that Visa is committed to supporting these trends by providing safe and smooth payment solutions. "
She added that the trends observed this summer by the company, particularly in the areas of food and recreation spending, reflected a clear shift towards comfort, trust and more discriminatory experiences, and noted that Egyptians were relying on digital means first in planning, payments and celebrations.
Nicholas Jury, First Vice-President and President Visa Consulting Analytics for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), said that the regional experiences of Visa Consulting Analytics and VisaNet Global Potential enabled clients to obtain practical insights on changing consumer behaviour, and pointed out that such trends helped firms to plan strategically, respond rapidly to the fluctuations of demand and exploit new summer opportunities, particularly.
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