The face of tourism in Sardinia is changing, with a marked trend towards the internationalization of consumption. According to data presented by the regional Councilor for Tourism, Franco Cuccureddu, and based on Mastercard surveys conducted on physical POS terminals, between January 1st and August 31st 2026 foreign visitors generated 50.3 percent of the overall spending on the island for the first time.
The analysis highlights an overall growth in transactions of 9.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025, debunking perceptions of a possible decline in consumption. This positive trend is also supported by air traffic data: the airports of Cagliari-Elmas, Olbia, and Alghero recorded approximately 8.6 million passengers, with an increase of over 700 thousand arrivals. In particular, Alghero airport saw a jump in foreign flows of 52.56 percent.
Spending categories and main markets
Dining remains the driving sector, accounting for 22.7 percent of total spending, followed by supermarkets (18.7 percent) and hotel accommodation (13.1 percent). While public venues and fuel recorded strong growth, accommodation facilities saw a 5.2 percent decline in direct spending. Regarding foreign markets, Germany remains the main contributor with 20.8 percent of international spending, followed by Switzerland and the Netherlands.
On the national front, Lombardy leads the ranking of Italian spending with 23.36 percent, followed by Lazio and Emilia-Romagna. The data also show an average ticket per transaction of 41.57 euros, with significant peaks recorded by visitors from Armenia and Saudi Arabia. The increase in overall spending, even net of inflation, confirms the solidity of the regional tourism economy, despite some local variations reported by individual operators. This growth scenario is consistent with the recent boom in foreign tourists recorded in various areas of the island.