Sardinia tourism spending rises 9.5% amid shifting transaction trends

Data from Mastercard indicates that spending via physical POS terminals in Sardinia grew by 9.5% during the first eight months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. However, a closer analysis of the figures suggests a more complex economic picture than a simple increase in tourist purchasing power.

The total spending figure includes various groups: 50.3% from foreign tourists, 21.3% from other Italians, and 28.5% from local Sardinians traveling within the island. Furthermore, while total spending rose by 9.5%, the number of transactions increased by 16.5%. This discrepancy indicates that the average value per transaction has decreased.

Sector-specific data shows that while spending in the restaurant sector grew by 14.1%, the average ticket remained nearly unchanged, moving from 41.25 to 41.22 euros. In supermarkets and food retail, the average ticket dropped from 28.55 to 27.10 euros.