Developments in the balance of travel services: June 2015
21/08/2015 - Press Releases
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €1,724 million in June 2015, compared with a surplus of €1,691 million in June 2014. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 1.2% to €1,915 million in June 2015, from €1,891 million in June 2014. Travel payments decreased by 4.5% (June 2015: €191 million, June 2014: €200 million). Higher travel receipts resulted mainly from an increase of 12.4% in arrivals, as the average expenditure per trip decreased by 9.9%. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 72.8% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (132.7%) the goods deficit.
In January-June 2015, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €3,112 million, up 9.5% from a surplus of €2,843 million in the same period of 2014. This development is attributed to an increase of €311 million or 8.2% in travel receipts, which outweighed an increase of €42 million or 4.3% in travel payments. Higher travel receipts were mainly due to increased arrivals (by 20.8%), as the average expenditure per trip decreased by 10.0%. Net receipts from travel services offset 38.4% of the goods deficit and accounted for 46.7% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In June 2015, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 1.2% year-on-year. Looking at the breakdown by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from residents of the EU28 increased by 13.9% (June 2015: €1,280 million, June 2014: €1,124 million). Receipts from outside the EU28 dropped by 18.3% (June 2015: €589 million, June 2014: €720 million). The increase in receipts from within the EU28 is attributed primarily to a rise of €107 million or 15.8% in receipts from euro area residents and, to a lesser extent, to an increase of 11.0% in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (June 2015: €497 million, June 2014: €447 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from Germany rose by 16.3% to €335 million and those from France by 31.2% to €141 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased by 4.9% to €302 million (June 2014: €288 million). Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 65.8% to €79 million, while those from the United States increased by 58.4% to €150 million.
In January-June 2015, travel receipts increased by 8.2% year-on-year to €4,122 million. This development is attributed to higher receipts from within the EU28 (up 19.0% to €2,620 million), as receipts from outside the EU28 dropped by 6.7% to €1,376 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents increased by 13.9% to €1,615 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries rose by 28.2% to €1,005 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany rose by 18.1% to €653 million, while those from France rose by 21.2% to €319 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased by 30.3% to €627 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 63.2% to €129 million, while receipts from the United States increased by 32.9% to €306 million.
Inbound traveller flows (1)
The number of inbound visitors in June 2015 rose by 12.4% year-on-year to 3,033 thousand. This development mainly reflects a 21.2% increase in arrivals from within the EU28, as arrivals from outside the EU28 fell by 0.9%. In greater detail, arrivals from the euro area increased by 20.0% to 1,065 thousand. Arrivals from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose by 22.5% (June 2015: 912 thousand, June 2014: 745 thousand). Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 22.1% and those from France by 22.7%. Arrivals from the United Kingdom dropped by 3.9% to 373 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia fell by 60.0% to 95 thousand, while arrivals from the United States rose by 48.6% to 117 thousand.
The number of inbound visitors in January-June 2015, increased by 20.8% to 7,566 thousand (January-June 2014: 6,264 thousand). In the period under review, arrivals from within the EU28 rose by 32.4% year-on-year to 4,900 thousand, while arrivals from outside the EU28 increased by 4.0% to 2,666 thousand. Arrivals from the euro area rose by 17.8%, while those from the non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 51.3%. More specifically, arrivals from Germany and France increased by 23.5% and 12.5%, respectively, while arrivals from the United Kingdom rose by 18.0%. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia fell by 60.6% to 151 thousand, while those from the United States increased by 41.6% to 287 thousand.
1) Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers (apart from those recorded in the Border Survey).
Related link: Developments in the balance of travel services: June 2015 - Table