Developments in the balance of travel services: July 2015
22/09/2015 - Press Releases
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,712 million in July 2015, compared with a surplus of €2,577 million in July 2014. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 3.5% to €2,872 million in July 2015, from €2,774 million in the same month of 2014. Travel payments decreased by 18.7% (July 2015: €160 million, July 2014: €197 million). Higher travel receipts resulted mainly from a 4.4% increase in arrivals, as the average expenditure per trip decreased by 0.6%. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 87.1% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (427.3%) the goods deficit.
In January-July 2015, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €5,824 million, up 7.5% from a surplus of €5,419 million in the same period of 2014. This development is attributed to an increase of €410 million or 6.2% in travel receipts, which outweighed an increase of €5 million or 0.4% in travel payments. Higher travel receipts were mainly due to increased arrivals (by 14.2%), as the average expenditure per trip decreased by 6.6%. Net receipts from travel services offset 57.0% of the goods deficit and accounted for 64.2% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In July 2015, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 3.5% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 decreased by 1.7% (July 2015: €1,580 million, July 2014: €1,608 million). Receipts from outside the EU28 rose by 11.8% (July 2015: €1,233 million, July 2014: €1,103 million). The decrease in receipts from within the EU28 is attributed to a fall of €167 million or 15.8% in receipts from euro area residents, as receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 25.2% (June 2015: €691 million, July 2014: €552 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from Germany fell by 5.1% to €291 million and those from France by 28.2% to €170 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 49.6% to €397 million (July 2014: €266 million). Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 77.4% to €68 million and those from the United States by 15.7% to €95 million.
In January-July 2015, travel receipts increased by 6.2% year-on-year to €6,995 million. This development is attributed to higher receipts, mainly from within the EU28 (up 10.2% to €4,200 million) and to a lesser extent from outside the EU28 (up 1.2% to €2,610 million). In particular, receipts from euro area residents increased by 1.2% to stand at €2,504 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries rose by 27.0% to €1,696 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany rose by 9.8% to €944 million, while those from France fell by 2.2% to €489 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased by 37.2% to €1,024 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 69.7% to €197 million, while receipts from the United States increased by 16.9% to €401 million.
Inbound traveller flows (1)
The number of inbound visitors in July 2015 rose by 4.4% year-on-year to 4,409 thousand. This development mainly reflects a 15.5% increase in arrivals from within the EU28, as arrivals from outside the EU28 fell by 8.7%. In greater detail, arrivals from the euro area increased by 5.3% to 1,361 thousand. Arrivals from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose by 28.9% (July 2015: 1,280 thousand, July 2014: 994 thousand). Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 23.9%, while those from France dropped by 1.0%. Arrivals from the United Kingdom rose by 54.2% to stand at 487 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia fell by 71.1% to 85 thousand, while arrivals from the United States rose by 19.7% to 108 thousand visitors.
The number of inbound travellers in January-July 2015 increased by 14.2% to 11,974 thousand (January-July 2014: 10,487 thousand). In the period under review, inbound traffic from within the EU28 rose by 25.9% year-on-year to 7,541 thousand. At the same time, arrivals from outside the EU28 decreased by 1.5% to 4,433 thousand. Arrivals from the euro area rose by 13.0%, while those from the non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 42.7%. More specifically, arrivals from Germany and France increased by 23.6% and 7.3%, respectively, while arrivals from the United Kingdom rose by 29.3%. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia fell by 65.2% to 236 thousand, while those from the United States increased by 34.8% to 395 thousand.
(1) Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers (apart from those recorded in the Border Survey).
Related link: Developments in the balance of travel services: July 2015 - Table