Visa Study Reveals Hong Kong Travellers’ Strategic Game Plan: Early Planning, Strong Financial Commitment, and Deliberate Credit Card Choices

03/30/2026

• 88% of Hong Kong outbound travellers are maintaining or increasing their travel spending, with outbound travel now accounting for 23% of household budgets.
• Six in ten Hong Kong travellers plan their trips four to twelve months ahead, with 61% factoring rewards into their credit card choices as part of that early preparation.
• 60% of Hong Kong travellers cite a credit card's global acceptance as essential, and 32% prioritise security, privacy, and fraud protection when choosing a payment method during travels.

 

 

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today unveiled the latest findings from its Consumer Payment Attitudes Study 5.0: Outbound Travel Behaviours & Priorities (CPAS 5.0)1, highlighting that outbound travel is emerging as a priority for consumers, with a new breed of "strategic traveller" in Hong Kong who enjoy the planning process as much as the journey itself. From mapping out itineraries to comparing deals to maximising rewards, they approach travel with structured planning, financial intent and a focus on optimising value from the very first step.

 

Travel remains a major financial priority, and Hong Kong travellers plan early

For Hong Kong consumers, travel remains a firm priority, with spending holding strong even amid shifting economic conditions. The study finds that 88% of outbound travellers are either maintaining or increasing their travel spending, with 23% of total household expenditure allocated to travel. This strong commitment signals that travel has moved beyond a reconsidered luxury to a steadfast lifestyle priority.

This financial commitment is further reflected in how Hong Kong outbound travellers approach the planning process itself. Six in ten travellers begin planning their trips four to twelve months ahead, underscoring a disciplined and forward-looking approach to travel. For these “strategic travellers”, the trip begins long before take-off, with planning serving as both preparation and a rewarding part of the journey.

 

Planning begins with choosing the right card

Choosing the right credit card is often the first step in turning travel plans into action. With 61% of travellers factoring rewards into their credit card application decisions, it reflects the mindset of travellers who choose their card with the full journey in mind, viewing rewards as a return on the investment of travel itself. This priority extends beyond rewards, as 60% of travellers prioritise global payment acceptance to ensure that their card works seamlessly across destinations, currencies, and merchant networks. Rewards and global acceptance together form the key benchmarks guiding how Hong Kong travellers choose their cards, reflecting a process as strategic as their travel plans.

 

AI becomes part of the journey from itinerary to payment

AI is establishing an active presence in how Hong Kong's outbound travellers approach their trips, with 53% already using AI as a purposeful planning tool to streamline planning, personalise recommendations, and optimise trip itineraries. When it comes to in-journey decisions and payments, 26% of travellers are openly receptive to AI assistance. They are ready to integrate it but have yet to take the first step. For Hong Kong's outbound travellers, AI is establishing itself as an active companion in trip planning, and an increasingly anticipated tool as part of their spending experience.

“For many Hong Kong travellers, the journey begins long before departure. Planning has become part of the experience — a chance to explore options, discover new destinations, and imagine what’s next. More travellers now use digital and AI-powered tools to shape their itineraries and extend the joy of travel even before it starts,” said Paulina Leong, General Manager of Visa Hong Kong and Macau. “As Hong Kong consumers embrace these tools across the journey, there is growing comfort with AI supporting more complex decisions from planning and booking to paying. This behaviour will accelerate the adoption of agentic commerce, where intelligent agents can act on a traveller’s behalf in more contextual, personalised and seamless ways. At Visa, we’re focused on powering this shift by enabling smarter, safer and more connected payment experiences. With our global acceptance, secure network and a broad suite of travel-focused solutions, Visa is a trusted travel companion helping ensure every journey is memorable, rewarding and secure.”

 

High-intent Hong Kong travellers pursue short-haul, multi-stop, food-led journeys

Every moment counts for Hong Kong outbound travellers, with 36% citing limited time off as a top obstacle when planning trips. This is reflected in how they structure their trips, as on average, travellers visit 2 destinations per trip, and popular destinations such as Japan (51%), Taiwan (21%), South Korea (15%), Singapore (13%), Thailand (11%), and Australia (11%) reflect the diverse preferences of Hong Kong travellers across the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong outbound travellers are food-centric in how they plan and experience their trips, with one in four citing culinary exploration as a primary motivation for their trips The experience-driven mindset continues in-destination, with 53% actively seeking out authentic local cuisines and street-food experiences during their travels, highlighting food’s role as a true driver of travel decisions rather than just an added benefit. 

 

Building travel confidence on a foundation of trust and security

Navigating multi-market, experience-first itineraries place clear demands on the payment layer. When a single trip spans multiple currencies, unfamiliar terminals and varied merchant environments across the region, security becomes paramount. Nearly one in three Hong Kong outbound travellers (32%) cite security, privacy and fraud protection as the most important factor in a payment method when travelling.

This confidence has a measurable basis, with 64% reporting that they feel safe making contactless card payments when travelling — an assurance that allows Hong Kong outbound travellers to move from one market to the next without the transaction becoming the story.

“The way Hong Kong travellers approach their journeys shows how deeply travel is woven into their lives. For us, that means evolving how payments can enhance every experience along the way,” Leong added. “At Visa, we are committed to working closely with our issuer and merchant partners to develop new products and curated local benefits. Through more personalised, destination-specific offerings, we empower travellers to focus on the experience, and be the traveller they want to be.”

 

1 Visa's Consumer Payment Attitudes Study 5.0 polled 1,050 consumers travelling to and from Hong Kong, within the Greater Bay Area, and from overseas markets, covering a range of ages, income levels, and districts. The survey was conducted in October–November 2025 through online interviews with respondents aged 18 to 55, with household incomes at or above the middle-income tier.

 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.