More than half of Portuguese people (59%) wish to pay for vacations in interest-free installments, as revealed by data released on Tuesday by Klarna, highlighting that the ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) payment method is gaining traction in the tourism and travel sector.
“More than half (59%) of national respondents” express that they would like to “pay for high-value trips, such as accommodation or transportation, in equal and interest-free installments,” according to a statement about the study provided to Notícias ao Minuto.
Klarna, a platform that enables such flexible payments, notes that “although the direct penetration of BNPL in holiday payments still has room to grow, the data reveals latent demand and significant interest from national travelers.”
“Moreover, 19% of respondents have already used BNPL for some travel-related expenses — including transportation, accommodation, activities, and essentials — indicating a growing adoption of this model compared to more traditional methods like credit cards (10%),” the released note states.
Additionally, “when faced with the possibility of airlines or travel platforms offering interest-free BNPL, 50% of consumers affirmed that this option would positively influence their booking decision. This data represents a strategic opportunity for companies in the tourism sector, which can use BNPL as a differentiator and loyalty factor.”
“BNPL is growing in Portugal, also significantly impacting the tourism sector, where an increasing number of brands are presenting these types of solutions to consumers,” says Alexandre Fernandes, Country Manager for Klarna in Portugal and Spain, as cited in the same statement.
When companies pay the holiday allowance, they do not pay the meal allowance. Why? There are two reasons: firstly, the meal allowance is not mandatory, and secondly, even when paid, it is not due on holidays.
Beatriz Vasconcelos | 09:06 – 04/07/2025
“As consumers seek more flexible alternatives to manage their budgets, especially during high-spending periods such as summer, we believe that BNPL can be a decisive factor in choosing destinations, airlines, and booking platforms. For brands, it represents a clear opportunity to increase conversion and enhance the shopping experience,” the same official notes.
According to Klarna, “TAP Air Portugal, Booking.com, Airbnb, or eDreams are among the leading tourism sector brands that already offer Klarna as a payment method at checkout, allowing consumers to pay for their bookings in three equal and interest-free installments.”
The IPMA shared that this Tuesday, the sky will be “slightly cloudy or clear” and there will be “an increase in maximum temperature in the northern and central coast.” In the Algarve, however, a “slight decrease” is expected.
Notícias ao Minuto with Lusa | 09:26 – 08/07/2025
