The desire to travel shows no signs of fading. Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty characterizing these years, Italians continue to regard a vacation as an indispensable need, no longer a mere luxury to be enjoyed only when finances are abundant. Yet the perception of travel has evolved: from an occasional indulgence to an essential element for personal and family well‑being, a recharge moment considered necessary by many.
Nevertheless, the clash between the wish to depart and the family budget under pressure is real. How can these two aspects be reconciled? Sector data highlight something interesting: according to the Travel Innovation Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano, in 2025 the hospitality sector posted a turnover of €38.2 billion. This figure testifies to the sector’s resilience, but above all to Italians’ determination not to renounce their holidays, instead seeking new ways to make them economically sustainable.
How travel has changed
Our way of traveling has undergone a profound transformation. Digitalization is no longer an emerging trend but a consolidated reality: 57% of bookings are now made online, though human input has not disappeared.
A new customer journey has emerged, more sophisticated and informed: travelers search for information online, compare prices and reviews, and research destinations and experiences. But when it comes time for the definitive choice, especially for complex or costly trips, they rely on the experience and guidance of travel agencies because they offer personalization, security, and expertise—elements that technology alone cannot yet guarantee. In 2025, 27% of travelers turned to travel agencies to organize all or part of their departure (Source: HeyLight Focus on Travel – October 2025). The motivations are mainly time savings (30%), while 27% sought support for the reliability and reputation of operators. And there are those who sought secure, personalized guidance.
The ISTAT data for the second half of 2025 confirm the stability of travel demand. Arrivals grew by 1.1% and overnight stays by 4.7%, despite fluctuations in the preceding months. Travel has become an experience to be planned with care, not something to buy on impulse. And this new awareness is transforming the entire sector. In 2025, eight Italians out of ten preferred to plan their trips in advance. According to the findings of the HeyLight survey, the reasons are multiple: 44% wanted to avoid last‑minute stress, 35% sought the broader choice guaranteed by early bookings, while 35% acted in advance to obtain promotions and more affordable prices.
The true cost of a family vacation
Let’s talk concrete numbers—the ones every family knows well when starting to plan a vacation. A 3–4 night all‑inclusive vacation costs on average €1,233 per person. It seems manageable until the multiplier effect kicks in: for a family of four, the total nears €4,500. And if the destination is outside Europe, the figure jumps to €3,010, turning the dream of an exotic getaway into a significant financial undertaking.
Facing these figures, the questions that haunt families are always the same: what can we allow ourselves? Do we have to give up something? How to plan the budget to travel without the stress of paying everything in one go? The temptation to rely on last‑minute discounts is strong, but it entails compromises—rigid dates, second‑choice destinations, accommodations not quite like those imagined.
Yet today’s travelers are increasingly aware and no longer want to compromise on quality. They have understood that a poorly organized vacation or a disappointing accommodation is not a saving, but a waste of time and resources. The question then becomes: how to access high‑quality experiences without destabilizing the family budget?
Buy Now Pay Later enters the travel world
And this is where Buy Now Pay Later comes into play. What is it? It is a payment system that allows you to book the trip of your dreams today and pay for it comfortably in installments, without interest or under favorable terms.
More than half of travelers now prefer to spread travel expenses over up to 12 months, distributing the financial commitment over time rather than paying everything at once. The mindset shift is evident: moving from “all at once” to “plan and realize.” No more impulsive purchases or forced sacrifices, but a calm and rational management of resources.
HeyLight, the answer of Compass to the new traveler
Among BNPL solutions developed specifically for the travel sector, HeyLight by Compass Bank stands out for its versatility and simplicity. The system allows spreading amounts up to €5,000 in a maximum of 12 installments, a figure that widely covers the needs of most Italian families.
The multichannel approach is one of its strengths: you can use HeyLight at a travel agency, via SmartPOS or WebApp, or directly online through integration into booking engines. There is also the option to activate the service remotely, receiving a unique link by email or SMS. Practically, wherever you decide to book your vacation, HeyLight can accompany you.
But how does it work concretely for travelers? The process is straightforward. The customer books the vacation they want today and pays for it gradually, installment by installment. You can choose to charge the installments to a credit card or directly to a bank account, and the first installment is charged after 30 days, giving families time to organize themselves. A few steps and a payment card are enough to divide the cost of the stay.
The true freedom of HeyLight lies in choosing higher‑quality vacations without immediate financial stress. That sea‑view room instead of standard, that five‑star resort instead of three, that extra excursion that completes the experience: everything becomes accessible when you can spread the expense over time.
Why HeyLight supports the entire tourism sector
The benefits of BNPL extend beyond travelers. Operators in the tourism sector are discovering in HeyLight a competitive lever that can significantly boost business. The data collected by Compass speak clearly.
Those who use installment payments spend up to 40% more than those who pay everything upfront. It’s easy to understand why: by spreading the cost, people feel freer to choose better options, add services, and extend their stay. Partners who adopted HeyLight report revenue increases between 10% and 30%, a remarkable result in a highly competitive sector.
But there’s more. Up to 87% of those who buy with HeyLight are new customers, greatly expanding the pool of users to engage. Bookings have even doubled year over year for operators who began offering the option to pay little by little, compared with when this option wasn’t available.
From the end customer’s perspective, 38% of users openly state that without the ability to spread payments they would have completely forfeited the service. This is noteworthy because nearly four in ten would not have traveled. 60% chose higher‑level products thanks to the financing, improving their travel experience. And the satisfaction is such that 94% of users are willing to use HeyLight again for their next holidays.
What really changes for travelers
The ability to pay in installments brings a profound cultural shift in the way vacations are conceived. First of all, the end of the “must be a low‑cost vacation” mindset. You no longer have to settle for the first low-price offer you find, sacrificing quality, comfort, or the destination you truly want.
Budget planning becomes more serene. Instead of ending up with an emptied wallet in July and sacrificing the rest of the summer, spread the cost over several months, maintaining a steady financial balance. You can book in advance, locking in the best offers and the most sought‑after accommodations, which would sell out quickly if you waited for the last moment.
But perhaps the most interesting change concerns upgrading destinations and experiences. That trip that seemed out of reach, that exotic destination you had always dreamed of, that special experience you wanted to gift your family: all of it suddenly becomes accessible. It’s not about spending more than you can afford, but about better organizing your resources to get exactly what you want.
The future of tourism is flexible
What today appears as a novelty could tomorrow become standard. Buy Now Pay Later is establishing itself as a consolidated practice in the travel sector, just as it has in other areas of commerce.
The channel hybridization is the new model to follow: no longer online versus offline, but online plus offline equals optimal customer experience. You search for information on the web, compare prices, read reviews, then perhaps visit an agency for personalized advice, and finally complete the booking by paying in installments. The journey is no longer linear but fluid, and BNPL fits this aspect perfectly.
Economic accessibility is emerging as a new criterion of choice, alongside traditional ones like destination, services, and reviews. It’s no longer enough to ask, “Do I like this vacation?”; now you also ask, “How can I organize to pay for it?” And the answer to this second question can be the difference between leaving or staying home.
If you want to discover how HeyLight solutions can transform your way of traveling, visit the HeyLight website and explore all available options. And if you are a tourism operator interested in implementing this payment system, don’t miss the opportunity to meet the HeyLight team at BIT 2026, which will be held at Fieramilano Rho from February 10 to 12, Hall 9P, Stands P14 P16.
Advertising message with promotional purposes HeyLight is a registered trademark of Compass Banca S.p.A. and identifies several installment payment solutions: A) The free payment deferral offered to consumers, after evaluation, by sellers of goods and services with which Compass Banca S.p.A. has entered into an agreement for the cession of pro-soluto credits (factoring). Complete conditions applicable to the deferral are available at the sellers of goods and services. Factoring contract information sheets available on the site compass.it, HeyLight.com, at Compass Banca S.p.A. branches or at financial service agents operating as single‑mandate credit intermediaries or with exclusive product mandates from Compass Banca S.p.A.. Subject to Compass Banca S.p.A. approval. B) The targeted loan granted to consumers, subject to approval, directly by Compass Banca S.p.A.. Economic and contractual conditions available on the sites compass.it, HeyLight.com and at the sellers, affiliated with or exclusive with Compass Banca S.p.A.. C) Moreover, the HeyLight brand has been licensed to Holipay S.r.l., an Italian company headquartered at Viale Ortigara, 7/9 Milano Marittima (RA) Registry of Companies of RA Tax Code and VAT number 16090851003. The technology service offered by Holipay is designed for the needs of hoteliers, to automate and allocate calendarizing the cash flow from deposits through a software as a service integrated with a payment gateway service. Use of the service is subject to terms and conditions heylight.com/it/it/viaggi-turismo.
