Developments in the Balance of Travel Services: June 2025
21/08/2025 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €2,984.9 million in June 2025 and a surplus of €5,991.8 million in January-June 2025.
- Travel receipts rose by 8.8% in June 2025 and by 11.0% in January-June 2025.
- Inbound traveller flows fell by 1.7% in June 2025, while they grew by 0.6% in January-June 2025.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in June 2025 showed a surplus of €2,984.9 million, against a surplus of €2,793.4 million in June 2024. Specifically, travel receipts in June 2025 rose by 8.8% to €3,306.7 million, from €3,038.3 million in June 2024, while travel payments also increased, by 31.4% (June 2025: €321.8 million, June 2024: €244.8 million). The rise in travel receipts reflected mainly a 10.2% increase in average expenditure per trip, as inbound traveller flows decreased by 1.7%. Net travel receipts offset 94.4% of the goods deficit and contributed 92.6% of total net services receipts.
In January-June 2025, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €5,991.8 million, up from a surplus of €5,554.5 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Travel receipts rose by €760.4 million, or 11.0%, to €7,658.9 million, while travel payments also increased, by €323.1 million or 24.0%, to €1,667.2 million. The rise in travel receipts was driven by a 0.6% increase in inbound traveller flows, though primarily by a 10.1% rise in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 35.4% of the goods deficit and contributed 81.6% of total net services receipts.
Travel receipts
In June 2025, as aforementioned, travel receipts grew by 8.8% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 rose by 5.5% to €1,743.0 million, as did receipts from residents of other countries, by 12.0% (June 2025: €1,397.4 million, June 2024: 1,247.8 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 is attributed to an increase of 13.5% in receipts from euro area residents (June 2025: €1,410.8 million, June 2024: €1,.243.0 million), as receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries dropped by 18.8% to €332.2 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany increased by 18.6% to €594.6 million and receipts from France rose by 19.9% to €192.0 million. Receipts from Italy also increased, by 25.7% to €180.0 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom grew by 3.0% to €601.2 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 64.7% to €247.3 million. Lastly, receipts from Russia dropped to €1.8 million.
In January-June 2025, travel receipts totalled €7,658.9 million, up by 11.0% year‑on‑year. This development is due to increases in receipts from EU27 residents by 8.5% to €4,069.8 million and in receipts from residents of other countries by 13.7% to €3,210.5 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 7.7% to €3,290.6 million and receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 12.4% to €779.1 million.
Specifically, receipts from Germany grew by 13.5% to €1,366.3 million, as did receipts from France, by 2.1% to €455.9 million. Receipts from Italy also increased, by 9.0% to €344.7 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom grew by 7.3% to €1,081.8 million and receipts from the United States also increased, by 29.4% to €704.3 million. Lastly, receipts from Russia rose to €9.6 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in June 2025 stood at 4,602.7 thousand, down by 1.7% year‑on‑year. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 3.3% year-on-year, while traveller flows through road border-crossing points dropped by 19.7%. This decline was mainly due to lower traveller flows from EU27 countries (down by 8.1%), whereas traveller flows from other countries increased by 8.0%. In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 7.2% to 1,949.3 thousand, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries decreased by 35.5% to 651.1 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany increased by 9.5% to 768.8 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 29.6% to 267.9 thousand. Travellers from Italy also rose, by 29.7% to 305.3 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom grew by 14.9% to 811.2 thousand and the number of travellers from the United States rose by 24.1% to 230.8 thousand. Lastly, the number of travellers from Russia increased to 3.0 thousand.
In January-June 2025, the number of inbound travellers grew by 0.6% to 11,691.9 thousand (January-June 2024: 11,625.6 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 4.9%, whereas traveller flows through road border-crossing points decreased by 13.1%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 fell by 6.3% year‑on‑year to 6,412.9 thousand. By contrast, the number of travellers from other countries grew by 10.5% to 5,278.9 thousand. Travellers from within the euro area increased by 2.4%, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries decreased by 27.5%.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 4.7% to 1,849.0 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from France fell by 9.8% to 610.1 thousand. Travellers from Italy increased by 4.9% to 617.2 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 11.0% to 1,521.9 thousand, as did the number of travellers from the United States, by 20.0% to 694.1 thousand. Lastly, the number of travellers from Russia increased to 10.6 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 July 2025 will be published on 22 September 2025, in accordance with the 2025 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.