Developments in the balance of travel services: May 2026
22/07/2026 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €2,023.2 million in May 2026 and of €3,812.3 million in January-May 2026.
- Travel receipts rose by 10.9% in May 2026 and by 25.8% in January-May 2026.
- Inbound traveller flows increased by 12.2% in May 2026 and by 20.9% in January-May 2026.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in May 2026 showed a surplus of €2,023.2 million, up from a surplus of €1,835.3 million in May 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 10.9% to €2,430.2 million in May 2026, from €2,191.9 million in May 2025, while travel payments also increased by 14.1% (May 2026: €407.0 million, May 2025: €356.6 million). The rise in travel receipts stemmed from a 12.2% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip decreased by 1.4%. Net travel receipts offset 95.7% of the goods deficit and contributed 88.0% to total net receipts from services.
In January-May 2026, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €3,812.3 million, up from a surplus of €2,885.1 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts rose by €1,090.0 million, or 25.8%, to €5,319.7 million, as did travel payments, by €162.8 million, or 12.1%, to €1,507.4 million. The increase in travel receipts was driven by both a 20.9% increase in inbound traveller flows and a 4.5% rise in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 30.9% of the goods deficit and contributed 83.7% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In May 2026, as mentioned previously, travel receipts stood at €2,430.2 million, up by 10.9% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 fell by 0.1% to €1,277.6 million, while receipts from residents of other countries rose by 27.9% (May 2026: €1,017.2 million, May 2025: €795.1 million). The decline in receipts from within the EU27 reflected a 28.7% fall in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries (May 2026: €186.2 million, May 2025: €261.1 million), whereas receipts from euro area residents grew by 7.2% to €1,091.4 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany increased by 4.3% to €484.9 million, as did receipts from France, by 13.6% to €160.3 million. Receipts from Italy dropped by 7.2% to €67.5 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom rose by 23.0% to €402.6 million, while receipts from the United States increased by 55.1% to €188.2 million.
In January-May 2026, travel receipts totalled €5,319.7 million, up by 25.8% year-on-year. This development reflects higher receipts from both EU27 residents, by 18.0% to €2,676.1 million, and residents of other countries, by 36.9% to €2,420.0 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 20.9% to €2,261.9 million and receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 4.5% to €414.3 million.
Specifically, receipts from Germany increased by 0.3% to €760.8 million, while receipts from France also increased by 13.3% to €284.5 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 27.6% to €221.7 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 50.9% to €736.3 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 19.4% to €539.0 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in May 2026 rose by 12.2% year-on-year to 3,329.0 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 5.7% year-on-year and those through road border-crossing points grew by 55.1%. This overall increase was due to higher traveller flows from both EU27 countries (up by 10.2%) and other countries (up by 15.1%). In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 14.6% to 1,653.2 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries dropped by 8.8% to 299.7 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 14.6% to 692.7 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 13.4% to 201.3 thousand. Travellers from Italy also increased, by 1.1% to 114.9 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 25.1% to 520.7 thousand, as did the number of travellers from the United States, by 1.9% to 126.2 thousand.
In January-May 2026, the number of inbound travellers grew by 20.9% to 8,569.4 thousand (January-May 2025: 7,089.2 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 9.5% and those through road border-crossing points by 64.5%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 rose by 24.1% year-on-year to 4,730.8 thousand, while travellers from other countries increased by 17.1% to 3,838.6 thousand. The number of travellers from within the euro area grew by 23.8%, as did the number of travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries, by 25.5%.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 13.6% to 1,227.2 thousand, while the number of travellers from France increased by 13.7% to 389.2 thousand. Travellers from Italy also increased, by 14.2% to 356.1 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom grew by 35.9% to 965.7 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from the United States declined by 2.0% to 454.0 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 June 2026 will be published on 21 August 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.