Visa reveals Hong Kong travellers as biggest daily spenders in the Asia-Pacific region during Olympic Games Paris 2024

09/19/2024

 

Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, today shared new data revealing the spending patterns of travellers from Hong Kong during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 period from 1 July to 11 August 2024.  

The world leader in digital payments has identified the positive impact that the Olympic Games is having in boosting spending in France and across Europe. Top spending and travel patterns1 by Visa cardholders from Hong Kong include: 

  • During an average trip length of 6 days, Hong Kong travellers spent an average of over USD 230 (HKD 1,800) per day2, recording the highest share of daily spend across APAC3, and a 3.4 times boost compared to pre-trip spending4. 
  • Over fifteen thousand Hong Kong travellers visited France during the Olympic Games, generating over USD 21 million5 (HKD 163 million) in spending, reflecting an over 110% increase in Hong Kong visitors and an almost 80% uplift in spending respectively.
  • Affluent6 Hong Kong travellers who visited France during the Olympic Games doubled, leading to an over 80% increase in spending. 
  • Significant uplift in both Hong Kong visitors and spending in several neighbouring European countries, including Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Spain experienced the highest growth, with an over 110% increase in Hong Kong visitors and an almost 180% increase in spending.
  • Over 60% of Hong Kong cardholders’ spending in France was on apparel and accessories, department stores, retail goods and dining.

“As the Worldwide Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we’re proud to promote a more inclusive world through sports, and create shared value with athletes, their fans, and travellers from around the world. Our two-time Olympic gold medallist and Team Visa athlete, Cheung Ka-long, is a perfect example of how his inspiring journey and sensational performance during Paris 2024 has connected everyone in Hong Kong,” said Paulina Leong, General Manager of Visa Hong Kong and Macau. “Looking into the spending and travel patterns from this data, it is very encouraging to see the trust and confidence that Hong Kong travellers place in Visa as their preferred way to pay when they are abroad. We look forward to bringing more rewarding experiences for Visa cardholders through our global and local sponsorships of sporting events and concerts.”

Visa’s responsibility to provide payment systems for the Olympic and Paralympic Games requires a robust and venue-specific plan combined with large-scale operations. Working hand-in-hand with the Organising Committee for the last three years, Visa has built a custom payment network across Paris and beyond, which ensures Visa contactless payments are accepted at 3,500 points of sale across 32 Olympic venues and 16 Paralympic venues. 

To learn more and enjoy Visa travel offers around the world, please visit: Visa Offers and Perks.

 

 

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1 Figures compare the period from 1 July to 11 August 2024 with the monthly average of the past 12 months.

2 Figures refer to Hong Kong international cardholders who have completed in-person card present transactions in France between 1 July to 11 August 2024, VisaNet.

3 The 5 Asia Pacific markets surveyed include Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Mainland China, Australia and Japan, VisaNet.

4 Pre-trip spending refers to domestic card present transactions done within 90 days before the first card present transaction in France, VisaNet.

5 Data was collected in France between 1 July and 11 August 2024, tracking visitor numbers and spending per card by Hong Kong cardholders, VisaNet.

6 Visa Infinite & Visa Signature are considered as Affluent cards.

 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating payments transactions between consumers, merchants, 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.