Developments in the balance of travel services: June 2017

22/08/2017 - Press Releases

Balance of travel services

Based on provisional data, in June 2017 the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €1,915 million, up 15.5% from a surplus of €1,658 million in June 2016. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 14.2% to €2,047 million in June 2017, from €1,792 million in the same month of 2016, while travel payments decreased by 1.4% (June 2017: €132 million, June 2016: €134 million). The rise in travel receipts was driven by a 13.0% increase in inbound traveller flows and by a rise in average expenditure per trip by 1.6% to €589. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 82.7% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (133.9%) the goods deficit.

In January-June 2017, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €3,174 million, up 9.4% from a surplus of €2,901 million in the same period of 2016. This development is attributed to an increase of €273 million or 7.1% in travel receipts, as travel payments remained virtually unchanged at €940 million. The rise in travel receipts was due mostly to a 6.6% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip rose by 0.7%. Net receipts from travel services offset 34.6% of the goods deficit and accounted for 60.5% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In June 2017, as mentioned previously, travel receipts increased by 14.2% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 rose by 10.5% to €1,401 million, while receipts from outside the EU28 also rose, by 26.6% (June 2017: €576 million, June 2016: €455 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU28 was due to increased receipts by 17.6% from euro area residents (June 2017: €831 million, June 2016: €707 million) and by 1.5% from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (June 2017: €569 million, June 2016: €561 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from France rose by 14.2% to €109 million and those from Germany by 16.3% to €347 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 8.5% to €378 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 20.3% to €74 million, while receipts from the United States also increased, by 33.6% to €110 million.

In January-June 2017, travel receipts increased by 7.1% year-on-year to €4,114 million. This development is attributed to increases in receipts from within the EU28 by 8.0% to €2,685 million and in receipts from outside the EU28 by 6.2% to €1,265 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents rose by 14.4% to €1,696 million, whereas receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries fell by 1.5% to €989 million. Specifically, receipts from France rose by 17.3% to €277 million and receipts from Germany increased by 15.4% to €688 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 4.6% to €630 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 10.7% to €121 million, whereas receipts from the United States fell by 11.0% to €239 million.

Inbound traveller flows (1)

In June 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 13.0% year-on-year to 3,356 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 14.9% and visitor flows through road border-crossing points increased by 6.4%. This development is attributed to higher visitor flows from both within the EU28 (up 10.2%) and outside the EU28 (up 19.7%). In greater detail, visitors from the euro area increased by 18.3% to 1,225 thousand, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 2.4% (June 2017: 1,096 thousand, June 2016: 1,071 thousand). Specifically, visitors from France increased by 9.9% to 150 thousand and visitors from Germany by 14.6% to 457 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 6.1% to 502 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia rose by 36.6% to 109 thousand, as did the number of visitors from the United States, by 34.6% to 124 thousand.

In January-June 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 6.6% to 7,941 thousand (January-June 2016: 7,446 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 11.3%, while visitor flows through road border-crossing points declined by 4.1%. In the period under review, visitors from within the EU28 increased by 7.9% year-on-year to 5.331 thousand, while visitors from outside the EU28 also rose, by 4.2% to 2,609 thousand. Visitors from the euro area increased by 18.5%, whereas visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries declined by 2.3%. Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 12.3% to 413 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 18.0%, to 1,048 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 3.2% to 958 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia increased by 15.1% to 187 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States fell by 2.3% to 298 thousand.

Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for July 2017 will be published on 21 September 2017.

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