Summer spending on Visa premium consumer cards in Pakistan saw a robust 36% year-over-year increase, driven by a surge in international travel and staycations, according to Visa’s latest consumer spending insights for the 2025 summer holiday period. The data, released by Visa, highlights shifting consumer behaviors and growing preferences for digital payments in the country.
Consumers in Pakistan favored longer getaways, which captured 66% of travel spend, with emerging destinations like Malaysia, Thailand, and Qatar witnessing a significant 63% rise in spending. Staycations also contributed to the growth, increasing by 26%. The majority (84%) of travelers opted for last-minute travel plans within a month, underscoring the flexibility enabled by digital payments.
Dining and leisure spending jumped 57%, while digital payments by premium Visa cardholders expanded by an impressive 110%, accounting for 35% of overall summer spend. eCommerce spending among these premium cardholders grew 19%, indicating a rising preference for alternative payment methods.
Outbound travel saw a shift toward emerging markets, with spending in destinations like Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, and Indonesia up 63%. Premium Visa cardholders drove 80% of total summer travel spend, increasing their outbound travel expenditure by 11%. Inbound travel spending by premium cardholders from the Gulf (Saudi Arabia and Bahrain) and Africa (South Africa, Mozambique, and Malawi) grew 33%, while spending from Europe – notably the UK, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Belgium – rose 44%.
“Consumers in Pakistan are embracing digital payment options and experiences more than ever this summer,” said Umar Khan, Country Manager for Visa in Pakistan & Afghanistan. “Visa is proud to support this evolution by enabling secure, seamless, and inclusive payment solutions.”
Visa’s Retail Spend Monitor, produced by Visa Consulting & Analytics, captured spending activity during Pakistan’s summer break (July 1 – August 15, 2025), leveraging VisaNet data and survey-based estimates.
The growth in digital payments and evolving travel trends reflect changing consumer preferences in Pakistan, with Visa positioning itself to support secure and adaptable payment solutions for both domestic and international transactions.
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