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Web Release
28-04-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Qashio and Visa launch ‘Qashio for Travel' to streamline and secure global travel payments at Arabian Travel Market 2025
Business and Economics Travel By Editor_wr On Apr 28, 2025 Qashio , one of the leading providers of spend management solutions, in partnership with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has launched Qashio for Travel, a next-generation payment platform built to address the unique operational and financial pain points in the travel industry. The launch comes during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, the region's flagship travel and tourism event. Travel companies have long grappled with inefficient card management, fraud risk, slow reconciliation, poor cash flow visibility, limited rewards, and costly foreign exchange fees. Qashio for Travel is built to help businesses gain full control over their global spend by issuing instant virtual cards tied to each PNR, setting detailed spending limits, and accessing real-time transaction data across multiple currencies. The platform enables seamless payments in AED, SAR, USD, EUR, and GBP, helping travel agencies manage foreign exchange exposure while simplifying back-office operations, maximising margins and reducing booking costs and the risk of fraud. With Qashio's automated reconciliation capabilities, travel businesses can eliminate error-prone manual processes and unlock faster, more accurate financial reporting. Qashio for Travel gives online travel agencies, travel management companies, destination management companies, and corporate travel teams the tools to optimise cash flow, track itinerary-level expenses in real time, and earn rebates on every transaction. Launching the platform during ATM 2025 is a strategic move, aligned with the UAE's rapidly growing travel sector, which is expected to contribute $100 billion to the national economy. 'We're excited to unveil Qashio for Travel during Arabian Travel Market, where the energy and innovation in the travel space truly reflect the opportunity ahead,' said Armin Moradi, CEO and Co-Founder of Qashio. 'Travel businesses in the UAE have long needed a smarter, more transparent way to manage spending. With Qashio for Travel, we're proud to launch a product designed specifically for their fast-paced, high-volume operations — one that offers control, automation, and rewards in one powerful platform. With the country now ranking sixth globally for international tourist spending, recording $51.9 billion in receipts, this sector is vital to our economy, and we're proud to support it with the right financial infrastructure. Visa's strategic support and global insight have helped elevate this product to meet the real-world demands of this industry.' Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE , added, 'The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing tourism regions in the world, and the travel sector is central to its economic diversification. We're proud to collaborate with Qashio on a solution that not only modernises payments for travel companies but also contributes to the region's long-term tourism goals. Qashio for Travel reflects the strength of our partnership — combining Visa's global payment infrastructure with Qashio's commitment to innovation — to deliver real impact for businesses.' Earlier this year, Qashio and Visa launched the Visa Commercial Choice Travel program in the region, committing over AED 100 million to support the travel industry across the UAE, MENA, Europe, and the UK. This solution allows travel companies to issue Qashio cards in multiple currencies and integrate seamlessly with booking platforms and global distribution systems (GDS), bringing automation, efficiency, and security to every step of the payment process. With the UAE heading towards a cashless economy, the launch of Qashio for Travel at Arabian Travel Market 2025 positions Qashio and Visa as key enablers, equipping the travel industry with the digital tools it needs to move faster, operate smarter, and compete globally. Comments are closed.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qashio and Visa launch ‘Qashio for Travel' to streamline and secure global travel payments at Arabian Travel Market 2025
Dubai, UAE – Qashio, one of the leading providers of spend management solutions, in partnership with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has launched Qashio for Travel, a next-generation payment platform built to address the unique operational and financial pain points in the travel industry. The launch comes during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, the region's flagship travel and tourism event. Travel companies have long grappled with inefficient card management, fraud risk, slow reconciliation, poor cash flow visibility, limited rewards, and costly foreign exchange fees. Qashio for Travel is built to help businesses gain full control over their global spend by issuing instant virtual cards tied to each PNR, setting detailed spending limits, and accessing real-time transaction data across multiple currencies. The platform enables seamless payments in AED, SAR, USD, EUR, and GBP, helping travel agencies manage foreign exchange exposure while simplifying back-office operations, maximising margins and reducing booking costs and the risk of fraud. With Qashio's automated reconciliation capabilities, travel businesses can eliminate error-prone manual processes and unlock faster, more accurate financial reporting. Qashio for Travel gives online travel agencies, travel management companies, destination management companies, and corporate travel teams the tools to optimise cash flow, track itinerary-level expenses in real time, and earn rebates on every transaction. Launching the platform during ATM 2025 is a strategic move, aligned with the UAE's rapidly growing travel sector, which is expected to contribute $100 billion to the national economy. 'We're excited to unveil Qashio for Travel during Arabian Travel Market, where the energy and innovation in the travel space truly reflect the opportunity ahead,' said Armin Moradi, CEO and Co-Founder of Qashio. 'Travel businesses in the UAE have long needed a smarter, more transparent way to manage spending. With Qashio for Travel, we're proud to launch a product designed specifically for their fast-paced, high-volume operations — one that offers control, automation, and rewards in one powerful platform. With the country now ranking sixth globally for international tourist spending, recording $51.9 billion in receipts, this sector is vital to our economy, and we're proud to support it with the right financial infrastructure. Visa's strategic support and global insight have helped elevate this product to meet the real-world demands of this industry.' Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE, added, 'The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing tourism regions in the world, and the travel sector is central to its economic diversification. We're proud to collaborate with Qashio on a solution that not only modernises payments for travel companies but also contributes to the region's long-term tourism goals. Qashio for Travel reflects the strength of our partnership combining Visa's global payment infrastructure with Qashio's commitment to innovation to deliver real impact for businesses.' Earlier this year, Qashio and Visa launched the Visa Commercial Choice Travel program in the region, committing over AED 100 million to support the travel industry across the UAE, MENA, Europe, and the UK. This solution allows travel companies to issue Qashio cards in multiple currencies and integrate seamlessly with booking platforms and global distribution systems (GDS), bringing automation, efficiency, and security to every step of the payment process. With the UAE heading towards a cashless economy, the launch of Qashio for Travel at Arabian Travel Market 2025 positions Qashio and Visa as key enablers, equipping the travel industry with the digital tools it needs to move faster, operate smarter, and compete globally. About Qashio Qashio is a top spend management platform dedicated to streamlining and optimising expense management for businesses. Offering advanced features such as expense tracking, virtual cards, and seamless integrations, Qashio enables companies to maintain control, compliance, and visibility over their spending.
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Ramadan travel to the UAE Up 6% as mid-market tourists redefine spending habits and trip duration
Ramadan 2025 has marked a turning point in how global travelers engage with the UAE, with new data from Visa showing a 6% year-on-year increase in visitors and a sharp shift in both traveler profiles and spending behavior. Average stay dropped to 4 days, down from 6 during the rest of the year, reflecting a growing trend of intention-led short trips. The visitor mix is also evolving, with a surge in inbound tourism from Central and Eastern Europe, led by the Czech Republic (86% increase compared to rest of the year), Romania (67%), Poland (63%), and Germany (44%) - markets that are reshaping the UAE's traditional tourist profile. Meanwhile, GCC-based travel, particularly from Saudi Arabia, declined, as many chose to observe Ramadan at home. These changes point to a reshaped visitor profile that's more diverse, time-conscious, and culturally motivated and for whom access to authentic, seasonal experiences matters more than luxury or length of stay. Released ahead of the Arabian Travel Market, Visa's Travel Pulse Q1-2025 report reveals emerging markets delivered unexpected spending, with a 111% increase in spend among visitors from Azerbaijan, followed by Tajikistan (81%), and Kyrgyzstan (62%). The report also showed that mid-market travelers (Visa mass cardholders) were the primary segment of travelers during Ramadan, accounting for 45% of total international visitor spend, up from 41% in non-Ramadan periods. Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE, said: 'Ramadan used to be considered as a quiet time for travel. But the patterns we're seeing now tell a different story. Our data shows the UAE is increasingly attracting new visitors that bring new spending behaviors and preferences. We're seeing travelers adapt to changing economic conditions, which is reflected in the duration of their stay and how they spend. But more importantly, they're still prioritizing travel and seeking enriching, meaningful experiences.' VisaNet data reveals a distinct Ramadan spending rhythm: • Spikes observed for eCommerce during Ramadan, with food orders peaking before Iftar and online shopping peaking at midnight • Retail (32%) and dining (25%) drove visitor spend in-store • Face-to-face and in-store spending surged in the final days of Ramadan, driven by extended mall hours and seasonal shopping experiences while online transactions dominated earlier in the month These trends show that travelers are spending purposefully but physically at local venues, presenting new in-store engagement opportunities for retailers. Visa's data reflects a shift in both visitor origin and spending patterns, expanding the UAE's reach beyond traditional tourist corridors. These sharp spikes reveal an opportunity for businesses to expand digital channels and identify new source markets with tailored offers, especially around cultural experiences and accessible price points. Gutieva added: 'For businesses, our Travel Pulse shows that Ramadan isn't a pause in activity, but rather a moment of opportunity. Behaviors during Ramadan are different and the key is understanding these to offer experiences that feel culturally relevant, easy to access, and meaningful to them.'
Arabian Business
24-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE sees spike in Ramadan travellers: Visa
The UAE saw a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in visitors during Ramadan 2025, according to travel analysis conducted by Visa. The global payments company also identified a shift in traveller profiles and spending behaviour. Visa's Travel Pulse Q1-2025 report reveals emerging markets delivered unexpected spending, with a 111 per cent increase in spend among visitors from Azerbaijan, followed by Tajikistan (81 per cent), and Kyrgyzstan (62 per cent). UAE Ramadan travel report by Visa The report also showed that mid-market travellers were the primary segment of travellers during Ramadan, accounting for 45 per cent of total international visitor spend, up from 41 per cent in non-Ramadan periods. The average stay dropped to four days, down from six during the rest of the year, reflecting a growing trend of intention-led short trips The visitor mix is also evolving, with a surge in inbound tourism from Central and Eastern Europe, led by the Czech Republic (86 per cent increase compared to rest of the year), Romania (67 per cent), Poland (63 per cent), and Germany (44 per cent). Meanwhile, GCC-based travel, particularly from Saudi Arabia, declined, as many chose to observe Ramadan at home These changes point to a reshaped visitor profile that's more diverse, time-conscious, and culturally motivated and for whom access to authentic, seasonal experiences matters more than luxury or length of stay. Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE, said: 'Ramadan used to be considered as a quiet time for travel. But the patterns we're seeing now tell a different story. 'Our data shows the UAE is increasingly attracting new visitors that bring new spending behaviours and preferences. We're seeing travellers adapt to changing economic conditions, which is reflected in the duration of their stay and how they spend. 'But, more importantly, they're still prioritising travel and seeking enriching, meaningful experiences.' Visa data reveals a distinct Ramadan spending rhythm: Spikes observed for eCommerce during Ramadan, with food orders peaking before Iftar and online shopping peaking at midnight Retail (32 per cent) and dining (25 per cent) drove visitor spend in-store Face-to-face and in-store spending surged in the final days of Ramadan, driven by extended mall hours and seasonal shopping experiences while online transactions dominated earlier in the month These trends indicate that travellers are spending purposefully but physically at local venues, presenting new in-store engagement opportunities for retailers. Visa's data reflects a shift in both visitor origin and spending patterns, expanding the UAE's reach beyond traditional tourist corridors. These sharp spikes reveal an opportunity for businesses to expand digital channels and identify new source markets with tailored offers, especially around cultural experiences and accessible price points. Gutieva said: 'For businesses, our Travel Pulse shows that Ramadan isn't a pause in activity, but rather a moment of opportunity. 'Behaviours during Ramadan are different and the key is understanding these to offer experiences that feel culturally relevant, easy to access, and meaningful to them.'
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ramadan Travel to the UAE up 6% as mid-market tourists redefine spending habits and trip duration
Mid-market travelers (mass cardholders) drove 45% of spend in the UAE during Ramadan, up from 41% year-round Average stay drops from 6 to 4 days, with visitor mix shifting toward Central and Eastern Europe In-store and after-dark spending surges, with retail (32%) and dining (25%) leading spend Gutieva: 'Visa's latest data dispels notion of Ramadan as a quiet tourism period for UAE' Dubai, UAE: Ramadan 2025 has marked a turning point in how global travelers engage with the UAE, with new data from Visa showing a 6% year-on-year increase in visitors and a sharp shift in both traveler profiles and spending behavior. Released ahead of the Arabian Travel Market, Visa's Travel Pulse Q1-2025 report reveals emerging markets delivered unexpected spending, with a 111% increase in spend among visitors from Azerbaijan, followed by Tajikistan (81%), and Kyrgyzstan (62%). The report also showed that mid-market travelers (Visa mass cardholders) were the primary segment of travelers during Ramadan, accounting for 45% of total international visitor spend, up from 41% in non-Ramadan periods. Experience-First Travel Replaces Lengthy Luxury Trips Average stay dropped to 4 days, down from 6 during the rest of the year, reflecting a growing trend of intention-led short trips The visitor mix is also evolving, with a surge in inbound tourism from Central and Eastern Europe, led by the Czech Republic (86% increase compared to rest of the year), Romania (67%), Poland (63%), and Germany (44%) - markets that are reshaping the UAE's traditional tourist profile Meanwhile, GCC-based travel, particularly from Saudi Arabia, declined, as many chose to observe Ramadan at home These changes point to a reshaped visitor profile that's more diverse, time-conscious, and culturally motivated and for whom access to authentic, seasonal experiences matters more than luxury or length of stay. Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE, said: 'Ramadan used to be considered as a quiet time for travel. But the patterns we're seeing now tell a different story. Our data shows the UAE is increasingly attracting new visitors that bring new spending behaviors and preferences. We're seeing travelers adapt to changing economic conditions, which is reflected in the duration of their stay and how they spend. But more importantly, they're still prioritizing travel and seeking enriching, meaningful experiences.' Spending Spikes Around Iftar and Again Before Midnight; Peaking Toward End of Ramadan VisaNet data reveals a distinct Ramadan spending rhythm: Spikes observed for eCommerce during Ramadan, with food orders peaking before Iftar and online shopping peaking at midnight Retail (32%) and dining (25%) drove visitor spend in-store Face-to-face and in-store spending surged in the final days of Ramadan, driven by extended mall hours and seasonal shopping experiences while online transactions dominated earlier in the month These trends show that travelers are spending purposefully but physically at local venues, presenting new in-store engagement opportunities for retailers. Visa's data reflects a shift in both visitor origin and spending patterns, expanding the UAE's reach beyond traditional tourist corridors. These sharp spikes reveal an opportunity for businesses to expand digital channels and identify new source markets with tailored offers, especially around cultural experiences and accessible price points. Gutieva added: 'For businesses, our Travel Pulse shows that Ramadan isn't a pause in activity, but rather a moment of opportunity. Behaviors during Ramadan are different and the key is understanding these to offer experiences that feel culturally relevant, easy to access, and meaningful to them.' About Visa Inc. Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating 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.
