Developments in the balance of travel services: July 2017

21/09/2017 - Press Releases

Balance of travel services

Based on provisional data, in July 2017 the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,735 million, up 6.6% from a surplus of €2,566 million in July 2016. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 5.3% to €2,925 million in July 2017, from €2,777 million in the same month of 2016, while travel payments decreased by 9.8% (July 2017: €190 million, July 2016: €211 million). The rise in travel receipts is attributed to a 10.2% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by 4.5% to €552. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 84.4% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (181.3%) the goods deficit.

In January-July 2017, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €5,909 million, up 8.1% from a surplus of €5,467 million in the same period of 2016. This development was driven by both an increase in travel receipts (up €420 million or 6.4%) and a drop in travel payments (down €21 million or 1.9%). The rise in travel receipts was due to an 8.0% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip declined by 1.4%. Net receipts from travel services offset 55.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 69.6% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In July 2017, as mentioned previously, travel receipts increased by 5.3% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 rose by 2.4% to €1,910 million, while receipts from outside the EU28 also rose, by 11.8% (July 2017: €930 million, July 2016: €832 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU28 was due to increased receipts by 3.6% from euro area residents (July 2017: €1,173 million, July 2016: €1,132 million) and by 0.5% from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (July 2017: €738 million, July 2016: €734 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from France fell by 11.0% to €188 million, whereas receipts from Germany increased by 10.1% to €370 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased by 12.7% to €385 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 12.0% to €110 million, whereas receipts from the United States decreased by 11.6% to €127 million.

In January-July 2017, travel receipts increased by 6.4% year-on-year to €7,039 million. This development is attributed to increases in receipts from within the EU28 by 5.6% to €4,595 million and in receipts from outside the EU28 by 8.5% to €2,195 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents rose by 9.7% to €2,868 million, whereas receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries fell by 0.7% to €1,727 million. Specifically, receipts from France rose by 3.9% to €465 million and receipts from Germany increased by 13.5% to €1,059 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 7.5% to €1,015 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 11.3% to €231 million, whereas receipts from the United States decreased by 11.2% to €366 million.

Inbound traveller flows (1)

In July 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 10.2% year-on-year to 5,142 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 10.3% and visitor flows through road border-crossing points increased by 10.6%. This development is attributed to higher visitor flows from both within the EU28 (up 8.7%) and outside the EU28 (up 13.4%). In greater detail, visitors from the euro area increased by 6.9% to 1,737 thousand, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 10.7% (July 2017: 1,679 thousand, July 2016: 1,517 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 4.4% to 274 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 13.9% to 514 thousand. The number of visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 24.3% to 560 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia rose by 6.4% to 127 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States fell by 14.9% to 117 thousand.

In January-July 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 8.0% to 13,082 thousand (January-July 2016: 12,111 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 10.9%, while visitor flows through road border-crossing points also increased, by 1.8%. In the period under review, the number of visitors from within the EU28 increased by 8.2% year-on-year to 8,748 thousand, as did the number of visitors from outside the EU28, by 7.7% to 4,334 thousand. Visitors from the euro area increased by 13.8%, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 2.6%. Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 9.0% to 687 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 16.6% to 1,562 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 10.1% to 1,518 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia increased by 11.4% to 313 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States fell by 6.2% to 416 thousand.

Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for August 2017 will be published on 24 October 2017.

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