Developments in the balance of travel services: June 2026
21/08/2026 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €3,116.3 million in June 2026 and of €6,928.6 million in January-June 2026.
- Travel receipts rose by 1.2% in June 2026 and by 14.8% in January-June 2026.
- Inbound traveller flows increased by 6.9% in June 2026 and by 15.4% in January-June 2026.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in June 2026 showed a surplus of €3,116.3 million, down from a surplus of €3,127.0 million in June 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 1.2% to €3,476.5 million in June 2026, from €3,434.6 million in June 2025, while travel payments also increased by 17.1% (June 2026: €360.2 million; June 2025: €307.5 million). The rise in travel receipts stemmed from a 6.9% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip decreased by 6.2%. Net travel receipts more than offset 119,2% of the goods deficit and contributed 96,1% to total net receipts from services.
In January-June 2026, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €6,928.6 million, up from a surplus of €6,012.2 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts rose by €1,131.9 million, or 14.8%, to €8,796.3 million, while travel payments increased by €215.5 million, or 13.0%, to €1,867.6 million. The increase in travel receipts was driven by a 15.4% rise in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip decreased by 0.6%. Net travel receipts offset 46,3% of the goods deficit and contributed 88,8% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In June 2026, as mentioned previously, travel receipts stood at €3,476.5 million, up by 1.2% year on year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 rose by 1.5% to €1,850.2 million, while receipts from residents of other countries fell by 1.2% (June 2026: €1,439.9 million; June 2025: €1,456.8 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 reflected a 3.7% increase in receipts from residents of euro area countries (June 2026: €1,516.0 million; June 2025: €1,462.1 million), whereas receipts from non-euro area EU27 countries declined by 7.2% to €334.3 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany decreased by 14.5% to €515.1 million, as did receipts from France, by 33.9% to €129.8 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 34.4% to €248.3 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom decreased by 26.1% to €442.9 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 3.7% to €257.8 million.
In January-June 2026, travel receipts totalled €8,796.3 million, up by 14.8% year on year. This development reflects higher receipts from both EU27 residents, by 10.7% to €4,526.4 million, and residents of other countries, by 19.7% to €3,859.9 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 13.3% to €3,777.8 million and receipts from residents of non‑euro area EU27 countries fell by 1.1% to €748.5 million.
Specifically, receipts from Germany decreased by 6.3% to €1,275.9 million, as did receipts from France, by 7.4% to €414.3 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 31.1% to €470.0 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 8.5% to €1,179.2 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 10.8% to €796.9 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in June 2026 rose by 6.9% year on year to 4,921.7 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 4.0% year on year and those through road border-crossing points grew by 20.7%. This overall increase was mainly due to higher traveller flows from EU27 countries (up by 12.2%), as traveller flows from other countries remained almost unchanged compared with June 2025. In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 15.8% to 2,413.5 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries fell by 2.4% to 503.3 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 6.0% to 814.6 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from France dropped by 18.5% to 218.2 thousand. Travellers from Italy increased, by 21.8% to 371.7 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom decreased by 12.0% to 713.8 thousand, as did the number of travellers from the United States, by 12.1% to 202.8 thousand.
In January-June 2026, the number of inbound travellers grew by 15.4% to 13,491.1 thousand (January-June 2025: 11,691.9 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 7.3% and those through road border-crossing points by 49.3%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 rose by 19.3% year on year to 7,647.6 thousand, while travellers from other countries increased by 10.7% to 5,843.5 thousand. The number of travellers from within the euro area grew by 20.6%, as did the number of travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries, by 12.8%.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 10.4% to 2,041.8 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from France decreased by 0.4% to 607.5 thousand. Travellers from Italy increased, by 17.9% to 727.8 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom grew by 10.4% to 1,679.5 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from the United States declined by 5.4% to 656.7 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 July 2026 will be published on 22 September 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.