84% of Hungarians plan to pay by card or smart device during their trip abroad

As Visa’s latest survey shows, the importance of digital payments is growing among cardholders in Central and Eastern Europe. Respondents traveling abroad from the region are increasingly likely to use this payment method on the spot: the most popular choices are cards, smartphones and smartwatches, chosen by 80% of tourists (compared to 77% in 2023). Those traveling from Hungary also follow the growing trend, and thanks to the great popularity of digital payments, a higher proportion (84%) than the regional average plan to pay in this way when they travel abroad.

Travelers from the surveyed Central and Eastern European countries who use their card to pay abroad perceive its advantages, especially the convenience (61%), speed (55%) and the fact that they can avoid the risk of losing cash ( 54%). These advantages were highlighted by an even larger proportion of Hungarian respondents: convenience was mentioned by 73%, speed by 70% and the security of cashless payment by 53%.

According to Visa’s study, young Hungarians are also happy to pay with a mobile phone, especially respondents between the ages of 18 and 25, 39% of whom plan to pay with a smartphone or smartwatch during their trip.