Developments in the balance of travel services: May 2016
22/07/2016 - Press Releases
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €916 million in May 2016, down 11.3% from a surplus of €1,032 million in May 2015. More specifically, travel receipts decreased by 10.4% to €1,095 million in May 2016, from €1,222 million in the same month of 2015. Travel payments fell more moderately, by 5.5% (May 2016: €180 million, May 2015: €190 million). The drop in travel receipts resulted mainly from a decrease of 14.8% in average expenditure per trip, as arrivals rose by 4.4%. Net receipts from travel services offset 66.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 78.0% of total net receipts from services.
In January-May 2016, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €1,272 million, down 10.6% from a surplus of €1,422 million in the same period of 2015. This development is attributed to a decrease of €137 million or 6.2% in travel receipts, as travel payments rose by €13 million or 1.7%. The decrease in travel receipts resulted from a 1.3% decline in arrivals and a 5.7% fall in average expenditure per trip. Net receipts from travel services offset 18.5% of the goods deficit and accounted for 52.4% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In May 2016, as mentioned previously, travel receipts declined by 10.4% year-on-year. Looking at the breakdown by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from residents of the EU28 fell by 8.0% (May 2016: €745 million, May 2015: €810 million), while receipts from outside the EU28 decreased by 17.7% (May 2016: €304 million, May 2015: €370 million). The decrease in receipts from within the EU28 resulted from a fall of €30 million or 5.7% in receipts from euro area residents and a 12.1% drop in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (May 2016: €255 million, May 2015: €290 million). Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany fell by 7.1% to €207 million and those from France dropped by 15.3% to €108 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 29.2% to €153 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 8.3% to €30 million, while those from the United States fell by 15.0% to €83 million.
In January-May 2016, travel receipts decreased by 6.2% to €2,078 million, relative to the same period of 2015. This development is attributed to lower receipts from within the EU28 (down 9.3% to €1,231 million) and a decrease in receipts from outside the EU28 (down 2.5% to €761 million). In particular, receipts from euro area residents fell by 9.7% to €772 million and those from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries by 8.6% to €459 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany dropped by 13.5% to €290 million and those from France by 13.2% to €154 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 19.5% to €260 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 8.7% to €54 million and those from the United States by 8.3% to €190 million.
Inbound traveller flows (1)
The number of inbound visitors in May 2016 rose by 4.4% year-on-year to 1,953 thousand. This development reflected a 6.7% increase in arrivals from within the EU28, as arrivals from outside the EU28 fell by 1.0%. In greater detail, arrivals from the euro area rose by 3.6% to 782 thousand and those from the non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 10.9% (May 2016: 618 thousand, May 2015: 557 thousand). Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 17.1% to 312 thousand, while those from France fell by 15.6% to 148 thousand. Arrivals from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 3.3% to 249 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia rose by 18.9% to 42 thousand and those from the United States increased by 10.9% to 88 thousand.
In January-May 2016, the number of inbound visitors decreased by 1.3% to 4,475 thousand, from 4,533 thousand in the same period of 2015. In the period under review, arrivals from within the EU28 fell by 3.0% year-on-year to 2,836 thousand, whereas those from outside the EU28 rose by 1.8% to 1,640 thousand. Arrivals from the euro area declined by 1.0% and those from the non-euro area EU28 countries by 4.8%. Specifically, arrivals from Germany rose by 4.4% to 490 thousand, while arrivals from France dropped by 11.2% to 231 thousand. Arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 1.9% to 456 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, arrivals from Russia rose by 47.6% to 83 thousand and those from the United States by 25.9% to 213 thousand.
(1) Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers (other than those recorded in the Border Survey).
Related link: Developments in the balance of travel services: May 2016 - Table