Money-smart travelers are ditching bulky wallets full of cash for a cleaner, more secure way to pay during visits to Costa Blanca. Mobile payments are rising in popularity as a convenient alternative to carrying physical cards, with contactless technology making purchases faster and safer while on vacation. Across the region, people are increasingly opting to use their phones for payments at restaurants, shops, and holiday gifts, embracing the simplicity of tap-and-go transactions.
After the pandemic accelerated this shift, activity in electronic payments continued to grow, driven by widespread smartphone use and a comfort with digital wallets. In Alicante, the annual volume of electronic payments expanded significantly, with year-over-year gains noted in BBVA Research data based on card and POS terminal transactions. While growth has slowed slightly compared with the peak pandemic period, the overall trajectory remains upward, underscoring a durable transition toward digital payments in the area.
When examining payments by user origin, international tourists show the strongest expansion, although the latest year tempered that surge. The data indicate a notable rise in spending by visitors from abroad, suggesting a broader trend of growing tourist expenditure, higher visitor numbers, and price increases paired with greater reliance on digital devices for payment rather than cash.
In this context, the trend toward electronic payments is visible in everyday consumer behavior. A representative example shows a typical point-of-sale interaction where a customer pays with a card at the terminal, illustrating how digital payments have become commonplace in the local market.
The overall pattern reveals that card and mobile payments expand most during periods that were previously considered off-peak for tourism. In months outside the summer peak, higher visitor numbers and warmer shoulder seasons coincide with faster growth in card spending. In January, foreign visitors increased card spending by a substantial margin, followed by similar gains in March and in the months from October to December. July, however, shows a relatively modest increase.
National tourists also contribute to the rise in electronic payments, though their growth pace is more modest. The BBVA Research figures show a solid, steady uptick in domestic tourist use of digital payments, reflecting a broader recovery in regional travel without the dramatic swing seen in international arrivals.
The Alicante tourism sector is exploring strategies to diversify offerings and attract a broader mix of visitors while keeping friction low at the point of sale. The local business community is recognizing that mobile payments offer convenience, speed, and a sense of financial certainty for customers. This aligns with the observation from Benidorm’s hospitality association that many outlets are already seeing a substantial share of bills settled by card or mobile devices. Operators report that mobile payments simplify transactions, reduce the need to carry cash, and encourage higher spend—benefits cited by business leaders in the region.
Industry leaders point out that while processing costs exist, the payoff shows up in smoother customer experiences and increased average ticket sizes. The reduction in cash handling supports tighter cash control and aligns with an ongoing push from various organizations to move away from cash receipts in the hospitality and service sectors.
Regional data from BBVA Research indicates that across the Valencian Community, card payments by businesses surged the most last year. The rise was especially pronounced in large retail spaces, followed by notable increases in recreation and entertainment, bars and restaurants, travel services, and aesthetic treatments, underscoring a broad shift toward electronic payments across the economy.