Paysafe Research: 45% of Travellers Abandon Purchases Due to Payment Friction in 2026

Quick Summary

The summer travel 2026 season is shifting toward an experience-led economy where 50% of travellers prioritise activities over shopping. However, payment friction remains a critical hurdle, with 45% of consumers abandoning purchases due to checkout difficulties, highlighting the urgent need for seamless digital payment integration.

How is the Experience Economy Reshaping Summer Travel 2026?

The summer travel 2026 landscape is witnessing a fundamental pivot in consumer spending. According to Paysafe's latest research, 50% of travellers now plan to allocate more budget to experiences, while only 19% intend to increase their retail shopping spend. This experience-led spending trend suggests that travel providers must focus on facilitating in-destination bookings and spontaneous activities.

• 91% of consumers are planning or considering leisure trips this summer.
• 37% of travellers are delaying bookings to maintain flexibility.
• 80% of respondents cite seamless digital payments as a top priority.

Why is Payment Friction Costing Travel Merchants Revenue?

Despite high demand, payment friction is actively driving away customers. The report finds that 45% of travellers have abandoned a transaction because the payment process was too difficult. Furthermore, 44% of consumers have faced technical issues with payments while already on their trip, creating a negative brand association for travel providers and merchants alike.

"Travel is increasingly shaped by the experiences people have in the moment, and that shift is changing how consumers plan, spend, and pay," said Bob Legters, Chief Product Officer at Paysafe. "Our research shows that travellers are prioritising flexibility and meaningful experiences, while expecting payments to be fast, seamless, and reliable wherever they are. For businesses, this creates both an opportunity and a challenge. Those that remove friction, support multiple payment options, and deliver seamless experiences at checkout will be best positioned to capture in-the-moment spending and build long-term customer loyalty."

What Payment Methods are Travellers Demanding?

To combat payment friction, consumers are taking matters into their own hands by diversifying their digital wallets. 70% of travellers plan to carry and use multiple payment methods to ensure they can complete transactions successfully. Merchants who fail to offer a broad payment mix - including digital wallets, eCash, and local methods - risk losing out to competitors who provide a more frictionless checkout experience.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This report confirms that payment friction is no longer just a back-office concern; it is a direct threat to the summer travel 2026 recovery. As travellers move toward spontaneous, experience-heavy itineraries, the ability to process a payment instantly and reliably becomes the primary differentiator. Merchants must stop viewing payments as a utility and start treating them as a core component of the customer experience to avoid the 45% abandonment trap.