Developments in the balance of travel services: January 2026
24/03/2026 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €234.0 million in January 2026.
- Travel receipts rose by 58.4% in January 2026.
- Inbound traveller flows grew by 33.3% in January 2026.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in January 2026 showed a surplus of €234.0 million, up by €143.1 million from a surplus of €90.8 million in January 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 58.4% to €473.3 million in January 2026, from €298.7 million in January 2025, while travel payments also increased by 15.1% (January 2026: €239.3 million, January 2025: €207.9 million). The rise in travel receipts stemmed from both a 33.3% rise in inbound traveller flows and a 19.1% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 8.3% of the goods deficit and contributed 71.3% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In January 2026, as previously mentioned, travel receipts rose by 58.4% year-on-year to €473.3 million. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 rose by 55.6% to €224.3 million, as did receipts from residents of other countries by 61.8% (January 2026: €246.7 million, January 2025: €152.4 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 was driven by increases in receipts from euro area residents by 46.1% (January 2026: €194.5 million, January 2025: €133.1 million) and in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries by 170.0% to €29.7 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany dropped by 9.5% to €36.9 million. Receipts from France increased by 23.6% to €11.8 million, while receipts from Italy grew by 38.6% to €28.8 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 138.4% to €54.0 million, while receipts from the United States also rose by 30.7% to €64.9 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in January 2026 rose by 33.3% year-on-year to 1,094.9 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 12.0% year-on-year, while traveller flows through road border-crossing points grew by 87.4%. This overall increase was due to higher traveller flows from both EU27 countries (up by 44.6%) and other countries (up by 23.6%). In greater detail, travellers from within the euro area increased by 31.8% to 452.7 thousand, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries rose by 169.4% to 94.8 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany decreased by 6.0% to 89.3 thousand, while travellers from France also declined by 6.9% to 21.7 thousand. Travellers from Italy increased by 5.2% to 48.1 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom fell by 14.5% to 65.1 thousand, whereas travellers from the United States increased by 37.7% to 66.7 thousand.
Note:
Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers other than those recorded in the Border Survey.
Related information:
The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for February 2026 will be published on 21 April 2026, in accordance with the Advance Release Calendar, posted on the Bank of Greece website.
Related link:
Detailed and final data on the balance of travel services are published in the Travel services section of the Bank of Greece website.