Developments in the balance of travel services: April 2018

21/06/2018 - Press Releases

Balance of travel services

Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in April 2018 showed a surplus of €190 million, compared with a surplus of €267 million in April 2017. More specifically, travel receipts in April 2018 rose to €490 million (up 1.0%, from €485 million in April 2017), but were partly offset by travel payments, which rose to €300 million in April 2018 (up 37.8%, from €218 million in April 2017). The rise in travel receipts was due to a 9.6% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by €33 or 7.3%. Net receipts from travel services offset 11.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 37.6% of total net receipts from services.

In January-April 2018, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €276 million, down from a surplus of €354 million in the same period of 2017. This development is attributed to the smaller increase in travel receipts (up €73 million or 7.4%) than in travel payments (up €150 million or 24.2%). The rise in travel receipts reflected an 11.5% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by €11 or 3.1%. Net receipts from travel services offset 4.2% of the goods deficit and accounted for 20.4% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In April 2018, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 1.0% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 remained unchanged from April 2017 at €292 million, while receipts from outside the EU28 increased by 4.4% (April 2018: €171 million, April 2017: €163 million). In particular, receipts from euro area residents fell by 5.5% to €199 million in April 2018, from €211 million in April 2017, whereas receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 14.4% to €93 million. Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany rose by 15.9% to €76 million, whereas receipts from France fell by 24.7% to €42 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom decreased by 5.8% to €46 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 2.3% to €8 million, whereas receipts from the United States rose by 47.8% to €39 million.

In January-April 2018, travel receipts increased by 7.4%, relative to the same period of 2017, to €1,047 million. This development is attributed to increases in receipts from within the EU28 by 9.0% to €610 million and in receipts from outside the EU28 by 6.7% to €403 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents rose by 3.1% to €403 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries also increased, by 22.8% to €207 million. Specifically, receipts from France fell by 17.5% to €58 million, whereas receipts from Germany rose by 20.4% to €148 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 6.7% to €88 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia decreased by 23.5% to €17 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 7.1% to €73 million.

Inbound traveller flows (1)

The number of inbound visitors in April 2018 rose by 9.6% year-on-year to 1,107 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 11.8%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 8.0%. This development is attributed to higher visitor flows from within the EU28 (up 17.9%), as visitor flows from outside the EU28 declined by 3.4%. In greater detail, the number of visitors from within the euro area increased by 10.3% to 384 thousand, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 27.6% (April 2018: 345 thousand, April 2017: 270 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany increased by 53.4% to 141 thousand, while visitors from France fell by 32.4% to 61 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom increased by 0.9% to 82 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, visitors from Russia rose by 3.2% to 14 thousand, as did visitors from the United States, by 41.4% to 50 thousand.

In January-April 2018, the number of inbound visitors rose by 11.5% year-on-year to 2,903 thousand (January-April 2017: 2,602 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 10.1%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 14.9%. In the period under review, the number of visitors from within the EU28 rose by 14.3% year-on-year to 1,799 thousand, as did the number of visitors from outside the EU28, by 7.3% to 1,104 thousand. Visitors from within the euro area rose by 13.4%, as did visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries, by 15.3%. Specifically, the number of visitors from France decreased by 16.2% to 100 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from Germany increased by 36.7% to 337 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom rose by 6.2% to 183 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia fell by 22.6% to 30 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States rose by 3.6% to 121 thousand.

Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for May 2018 will be published on 24 July 2018.

(1) Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers (other than those recorded in the Border Survey).