Developments in the balance of travel services: March 2026
25/05/2026 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €409.6 million in March 2026 and of €928.4 million in January-March 2026.
- Travel receipts rose by 55.6% in March 2026 and by 64.3% in January-March 2026.
- Inbound traveller flows increased by 38.1% in March 2026 and by 38.3% in January-March 2026.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in March 2026 showed a surplus of €409.6 million, up from a surplus of €172.8 million in March 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 55.6% to €669.4 million in March 2026, from €430.3 million in March 2025, while travel payments also increased by 0.9% (March 2026: €259.8 million, March 2025: €257.5 million). The increase in travel receipts stemmed from both a 38.1% rise in inbound traveller flows and a 13.8% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 15.8% of the goods deficit and contributed 73.8% to total net receipts from services.
In January-March 2026, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €928.4 million, up from a surplus of €352.6 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts rose by €655.9 million, or 64.3%, to €1,676.1 million, while travel payments also grew, by €80.1 million or 12.0%, to €747.7 million. The increase in travel receipts stemmed from both a 38.3% rise in inbound traveller flows and a 19.9% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 11.4% of the goods deficit and contributed 77.2% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In March 2026, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 55.6% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 increased by 56.6% to €347.8 million, while receipts from residents of other countries grew by 57.9% (March 2026: €307.9 million, March 2025: €195.0 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 was driven by higher receipts from both euro area residents by 59.5% (March 2026: €301.3 million, March 2025: €189.0 million) and residents of non-euro area EU27 countries, by 40.1% to €46.4 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany increased by 16.9% to €55.9 million, whereas receipts from France decreased by 0.3% to €15.8 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 100.4% to €58.1 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom rose by 35.5% to €39.9 million, while receipts from the United States increased by 42.8% to €80.0 million.
In January-March 2026, travel receipts totalled €1,676.1 million, up by 64.3% year-on-year. This development is attributed to higher receipts from both EU27 residents, by 66.4% to €825.2 million, and residents of other countries, by 65.2% to €824.2 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 64.6% to €709.3 million and receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 78.0% to €116.0 million.
Specifically, receipts from Germany rose by 6.6% to €122.5 million and receipts from France increased by 39.1% to €45.2 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 66.5% to €113.8 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased considerably to €213.3 million, while receipts from the United States also increased by 6.0% to €172.5 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in March 2026 rose by 38.1% year-on-year to 1,272.2 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 18.5% year-on-year and those through road border-crossing points grew by 85.0%. This overall increase was due to higher traveller flows from both EU27 countries (up by 55.5%) and other countries (up by 22.3%). In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 56.0% to 555.2 thousand, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries also increased, by 53.2% to 124.5 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 47.7% to 123.0 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 3.1% to 22.6 thousand. Travellers from Italy rose by 62.0% to 75.9 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom increased by 36.9% to 85.8 thousand, whereas travellers from the United States fell by 6.8% to 74.5 thousand.
In January-March 2026, the number of inbound travellers rose by 38.3% to 3,401.7 thousand (January-March 2025: 2,459.0 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 18.8%, as did traveller flows through road border-crossing points, by 84.3%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 rose by 51.5% year-on-year to 1,785.9 thousand, while travellers from other countries increased by 26.2% to 1,615.8 thousand. The number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 43.9%, while travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 94.4%.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 21.6% to 297.3 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 27.6% to 77.4 thousand. Travellers from Italy also increased, by 25.0% to 159.6 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 49.3% to 250.0 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from the United States declined by 8.6% to 172.5 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 April 2026 will be published on 22 June 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.