Developments in the balance of travel services: July 2016
21/09/2016 - Press Releases
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,610 million in July 2016, down 5.9% from a surplus of €2,775 million in July 2015. More specifically, travel receipts fell by 3.5% to €2,853 million in July 2016, from €2,957 million in the same month of 2015, while travel payments rose by 33.5% (July 2016: €243 million, July 2015: €182 million). The fall in travel receipts resulted from an 8.9% decrease in average expenditure per trip, as arrivals rose by 5.8%. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 86.0% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (204.4%) the goods deficit.
In January-July 2016, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €5,601 million, down 6.3% from a surplus of €5,980 million in the same period of 2015. This development was driven by both a decrease in travel receipts (down €346 million or 4.8%) and an increase in travel payments (up €33 million or 2.9%). The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 6.3% decline in average expenditure per trip, as arrivals rose by 1.1%. Net receipts from travel services offset 58.6% of the goods deficit and accounted for 73.5% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In July 2016, as mentioned previously, travel receipts declined by 3.5% year-on-year. Looking at the breakdown by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from residents of the EU28 fell by 4.4% (July 2016: €1,898 million, July 2015: €1,986 million) and those from outside the EU28 by 2.0% (July 2016: €891 million, July 2015: €908 million). The decrease in receipts from within the EU28 resulted mainly from a drop of €86 million or 10.1% in receipts from non-euro area residents, as receipts from euro area residents remained virtually unchanged (July 2016: €1,136 million, July 2015: €1,138 million). Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany fell by 18.9% to €319 million and those from France dropped by 7.5% to €199 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 35.6% to €330 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia increased by 14.4% to €108 million and those from the United States by 4.9% to €146 million.
In January-July 2016, travel receipts decreased by 4.8% to €6,783 million, relative to the same period of 2015. This development is attributed to lower receipts from both within the EU28 (down 4.2% to €4,445 million) and outside the EU28 (down 7.4% to €2,120 million). In particular, receipts from euro area residents fell by 5.9% to €2,613 million and those from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries by 1.7% to €1,833 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany dropped by 15.4% to €904 million and those from France by 14.8% to €455 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 14.7% to €979 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 1.5% to €223 million, while receipts from the United States fell by 3.8% to €458 million.
Inbound traveller flows (1)
The number of inbound visitors in July 2016 rose by 5.8% year-on-year to 4,664 thousand. Specifically, arrivals by air rose by 8.1%, while those by road fell by 2.5%. This development reflected a 19.0% increase in arrivals from within the EU28, as arrivals from outside the EU28 fell by 13.9%. In greater detail, arrivals from the euro area rose by 19.4% to 1,626 thousand, while those from the non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 18.5% (July 2016: 1,517 thousand, July 2015: 1,280 thousand). Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 9.9% to 451 thousand and those from France by 4.1% to 262 thousand. By contrast, arrivals from the United Kingdom decreased by 7.5% to 451 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia increased by 40.0% to 119 thousand and those from the United States by 27.3% to 138 thousand.
In January-July 2016, the number of inbound visitors rose by 1.1% to 12,111 thousand, from 11,974 thousand in the same period of 2015. Specifically, arrivals by air rose by 6.9%, while those by road fell by 10.0%. In the period under review, arrivals from within the EU28 increased by 7.2% year-on-year to 8,085 thousand, whereas those from outside the EU28 fell by 9.2% to 4,026 thousand. Arrivals from the euro area rose by 5.8% and those from the non-euro area EU28 countries by 8.7%. Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 3.7% to 1,339 thousand, while those from France fell by 11.9% to 630 thousand. Arrivals from the United Kingdom rose by 5.5% to 1,379 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia increased by 19.3% to 281 thousand and those from the United States by 12.2% to 443 thousand.
Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for August 2016 will be published on 24 October 2016.
(1) Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers (other than those recorded in the Border Survey).
Related link: Developments in the balance of travel services: July 2016 - Table