Press Releases

Developments in the balance of travel services: February 2026

21/04/2026 - Press Releases

- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €284.8 million in February 2026 and of €518,8 million in January-February 2026.

- Travel receipts rose by 83.2% in February 2026 and by 70.7% in January-February 2026.

- Inbound traveller flows increased by 44.5% in February 2026 and by 38.5% in January-February 2026.

Balance of travel services[1]

Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in February 2026 showed a surplus of €284.8 million, up from a surplus of €89.0 million in February 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 83.2% to €533.4 million in February 2026, from €291.1 million in February 2025, while travel payments also increased by 23.0% (February 2026: €248.6 million, February 2025: €202.2 million). The rise in travel receipts stemmed from both a 44.5% rise in inbound traveller flows and a 28.7% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts contributed 85.9% to total net receipts from services.

In January-February 2026, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €518.8 million, up from a surplus of €179.8 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts rose by €416.8 million, or 70.7%, to €1,006.7 million, while travel payments also increased by €77.8 million, or 19.0%, to €487.9 million. The rise in travel receipts stemmed from both a 38.5% rise in inbound traveller flows and a 24.2% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts contributed 78.6% to total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In February 2026, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 83.2% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 increased by 95.1% to €253.2 million, whereas receipts from residents of other countries grew by 78.2% (February 2026: €269.6 million, February 2025: €151.3 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 was driven by increases both in receipts from euro area residents by 96.2% (February 2026: €213.4 million, February 2025: €108.8 million) and in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries by 89.6% to €39.8 million.

Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany rose by 12.8% to €29.7 million, while receipts from France increased by 148.6% to €17.6 million. Receipts from Italy also grew by 44.8% to €26.9 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased considerably to €119.4 million, whereas receipts from the United States decreased by 51.7% to €27.5 million.

In January-February 2026, travel receipts totalled €1,006.7 million, up by 70.7% year-on-year. This development is attributed to increases both in receipts from EU27 residents by 74.3% to €477.5 million and in receipts from residents of other countries by 70.0% to €516.3 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 68.6% to €407.9 million and receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased considerably to €69.5 million.

Specifically, receipts from Germany fell by 0.8% to €66.6 million, whereas receipts from France increased by 76.8% to €29.4 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 41.5% to €55.6 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased to €173.4 million, whereas receipts from the United States declined by 13.3% to €92.5 million.

Inbound traveller flows

The number of inbound travellers in February 2026 rose by 44.5% year-on-year to 1,034.6 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 27.6% year-on-year, while traveller flows through road border-crossing points grew by 80.4%. This overall increase was due to higher traveller flows from both EU27 countries (up by 53.8%) and other countries (up by 35.0%). In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 43.4% to 434.8 thousand, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries also increased to 123.9 thousand.

Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 28.5% to 85.0 thousand, while travellers from France also increased by 114.9% to 33.1 thousand. Travellers from Italy rose by 1.6% to 35.6 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom increased to 99.1 thousand, whereas travellers from the United States fell by 48.0% to 31.4 thousand.

In January-February 2026, the number of inbound travellers rose by 38.5% to 2,129.5 thousand (January-February 2025: 1,537.5 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 19.0% as did traveller flows through road border-crossing points, by 83.9%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 rose by 49.1% year-on-year to 1,106.2 thousand, while travellers from other countries increased by 28.6% to 1,023.2 thousand. The number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 37.3% and travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 129.5%.

Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 8.2% to 174.4 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 41.5% to 54.8 thousand. Travellers from Italy also increased by 3.6% to 83.7 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 56.7% to 164.2 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from the United States declined by 9.8% to 98.1 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 March 2026 will be published on 25 May 2026, in accordance with the 2026 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.