Developments in the balance of travel services: September 2017

21/11/2017 - Press Releases

Balance of travel services

Based on provisional data, in September 2017 the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,297 million, up 17.2% from a surplus of 1,959 million in September 2016. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 15.5% to €2,470 million in September 2017, from €2,138 million in the same month of 2016, while travel payments decreased by 3.0% (September 2017: €174 million, September 2016: €179 million). The rise in travel receipts is attributed to an 11.8% increase in inbound traveller flows and to a rise in average expenditure per trip by 3.9% to €518. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 83.2% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (173.9%) the goods deficit.

In January-September 2017, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €11,535 million, up 12.4% from a surplus of €10,258 million in the same period of 2016. This development was driven by an increase of €1,213 million or 10.3% in travel receipts and a decrease of €64 million or 4.2% in travel payments. The rise in travel receipts is attributed mostly to a 10.3% increase in inbound traveller flows and, to a lesser extent, to a 0.5% rise in average expenditure per trip. Net receipts from travel services offset 84.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 76.7% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In September 2017, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 15.5% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 increased by 12.4% to €1,714 million, as did receipts from outside the EU28, by 26.9% (September 2017: €691 million, September 2016: €545 million). The higher receipts from within the EU28 were due to increases by 16.2% in receipts from euro area residents (September 2017: €1,031 million, September 2016: €888 million) and by 7.1% from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (September 2017: €683 million, September 2016: €637 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from France rose by 12.4% to €139 million, as did receipts from Germany, by 14.8% to €437 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 9.0% to €378 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia decreased by 51.2% to €45 million, whereas receipts from the United States increased by 38.2% to €164 million.

In January-September 2017, travel receipts increased by 10.3% year-on-year to €12,994 million. This development is attributed to increases in receipts from within the EU28 by 14.0% to €8,830 million and in receipts from outside the EU28 by 3.9% to €3,795 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents rose by 19.7% to €5,546 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries also increased, by 5.6% to €3,285 million. Specifically, receipts from France rose by 18.0% to €923 million, as did receipts from Germany, by 25.7% to €2,075 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 15.8% to €1,890 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 3.1% to €385 million, whereas receipts from the United States rose by 1.2% to €683 million.

Inbound traveller flows (1)

In September 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 11.8% year-on-year to 4,640 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 10.2%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 14.7%. This development is attributed to higher visitor flows from both within the EU28 (up 8.1%) and outside the EU28 (up 21.4%). In greater detail, visitors from the euro area increased by 10.6% to 1,603 thousand, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 5.8% (September 2017: 1,633 thousand, September 2016: 1,544 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 5.0% to 219 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 19.9% to 615 thousand. The number of visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 2.5% to 539 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia decreased by 42.2% to 75 thousand, while the number of visitors from the United States rose by 88.7% to 168 thousand.

In January-September 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 10.3% to 23,535 thousand (January-September 2016: 21,345 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 9.9%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 10.7%. In the period under review, the number of visitors from within the EU28 increased by 8.1% year-on-year to 16,047 thousand, as did the number of visitors from outside the EU28, by 15.1% to 7,488 thousand. Visitors from the euro area increased by 9.8%, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 6.3%. Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 8.8% to 1,290 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 15.0% to 2,915 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 6.9% to 2,625 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia increased by 1.1% to 531 thousand, as did the number of visitors from the United States, by 11.6% to 715 thousand.

Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for October 2017 will be published on 22 December 2017.

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