Media statement on the Travel Trends 2025 report

May 23, 2025 | Singapore

We have been made aware of recent coverage in the press which has misinterpreted some of the travel fraud-related insights in the Mastercard Economics Institute’s Travel trends 2025: Purpose-driven journeys report. This study highlights the key themes shaping the global travel economy and is designed to offer insights into consumers’ evolving travel behaviors and spending patterns.

It is critical to note that the report does not rank cities by levels of fraud, nor does it claim that any destination experiences the highest or lowest rates. 

What the report does state is that travel-related fraud rates vary by city. Tourists report the lowest travel-related fraud rates in San Francisco, Dublin, Seoul, Budapest, and Edinburgh, while those visiting places such as Cancun, Hanoi, Dhaka, and Bangkok, among others, tend to report higher travel-related fraud rates. This is a relative comparison, not a ranking of cities with the highest or lowest fraud rates.

For more information, please reference the Asia Pacific press release here: https://www.mastercard.com/news/ap/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2025/mastercard-economics-institute-on-travel-in-2025-asia-pacific-leads-trending-summer-destinations-for-second-year-running/

  

Media Contacts

Sarah Guldin, Mastercard

+65 6390 6199 | Sarah.Guldin@mastercard.com

Media Contacts

Amanda Sng, Archetype Singapore

+65 6603 9000 | mastercard-apac@archetype.co

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com