Tourist spending rises on Lake Garda: card payments up 12% in the first half

Spending by visitors in the Veneto Garda area rose by **12%** in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to figures processed by **Mastercard** for Destination Verona & Garda Foundation. In Verona’s historic centre, tourist spending increased by **6%**, alongside updated data on the economic impact of tourism across the territory.

In the Garda Veneto area, **74%** of the first-half spend came from international visitors. The biggest growth was recorded in **Austria (+21%)**, **the Netherlands (+17%)** and **Germany (+15%)**. The increase was spread across multiple local sectors: **restaurants (+15%)**, specialised food shops and supermarkets (**+14%**), and accommodation facilities (**+10%**). In Verona’s historic centre, **64%** of spending was generated by international visitors, with growth led by the **UK (+16%)**, **Germany (+10%)** and the **United States (+9%)**; city-linked sectors also rose, including **restaurants (+7%)**, **clothing (+5%)** and accommodation (**+4%)**.
Italian Version