Developments in the balance of travel services: September 2016
22/11/2016 - Press Releases
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,038 million in September 2016, up 1.0% from a surplus of €2,018 million in September 2015. More specifically, travel receipts in September 2016 rose to €2,232 million (up 2.3% from €2,182 million in September 2015), while travel payments increased by 17.9% (September 2016: €193 million, September 2015: €164 million). The rise in travel receipts resulted from a 13.7% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip decreased by 10.1%. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 81.9% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (148.8%) the goods deficit.
In January-September 2016, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €10,472 million, down 7.1% from a surplus of €11,269 million in the same period of 2015. This development was driven by both a decrease in travel receipts (down €703 million or 5.5%) and an increase in travel payments (up €94 million or 6.2%). The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 9.3% decline in average expenditure per trip, as inbound traveller flows rose by 3.5%. Net receipts from travel services offset 86.5% of the goods deficit and accounted for 78.5% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In September 2016, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 2.3% year-on-year. Looking at the breakdown by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from residents of the EU28 increased by 4.4% (September 2016: €1,603 million, September 2015: €1,536 million), while receipts from outside the EU28 dropped by 3.3% (September 2016: €569 million, September 2015: €588 million). The increase in receipts from within the EU28 was due to a rise of €188 million or 36.7% in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries, as receipts from euro area residents fell by 11.8 % (September 2016: €903 million, September 2015: €1,023 million). Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany fell by 17.8% to €357 million and those from France dropped by 24.7% to €136 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 39.7% to €377 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 39.6% to €97 million, while those from the United States fell by 36.9% to €112 million.
In January-September 2016, travel receipts decreased by 5.5% to €12,085 million, relative to the same period of 2015. This development is attributed to lower receipts from both within the EU28 (down 2.8% to €8,389 million) and outside the EU28 (down 13.5% to €3,278 million). In particular, receipts from euro area residents fell by 7.4% to €5,093 million, while those from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries rose by 5.2% to €3,296 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany dropped by 10.4% to €1,798 million and those from France by 24.3% to €842 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also decreased, by 5.6% to €1,763 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia rose by 5.4% to €410 million, while those from the United States fell by 26.7% to €628 million.
Inbound traveller flows (1)
The number of inbound visitors in September 2016 rose by 13.7% year-on-year to 4,150 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports and road border-crossing points rose by 9.5% and 17.5% respectively. This development reflected a 21.4% increase in visitor flows from within the EU28, as visitor flows from outside the EU28 fell by 2.3%. In greater detail, visitor flows from the euro area rose by 1.1% to 1,449 thousand and those from the non-euro area EU28 countries increased by 49.6% (September 2016: 1,544 thousand, September 2015: 1,032 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows from Germany decreased by 8.1% to 513 thousand, while those from France fell by 13.8% to 208 thousand. Visitor flows from the United Kingdom increased by 58.1% to 527 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, visitor flows from Russia rose by 44.2% to 130 thousand, while those from the United States fell by 34.0% to 89 thousand.
The number of inbound visitors in January-September 2016 increased by 3.5% to 21,345 thousand (January-September 2015: 20,617 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports rose by 6.8%, while those through road border-crossing points fell by 5.4%. In the period under review, visitor flows from within the EU28 increased by 13.1% year-on-year to 14,838 thousand, whereas those from outside the EU28 fell by 13.2% to 6,506 thousand. Visitor flows from the euro area rose by 6.9% and those from the non-euro area EU28 countries by 20.5%. Specifically, visitor flows from Germany rose by 6.2% to 2,536 thousand, while those from France fell by 11.6% to 1,186 thousand. Visitor flows from the United Kingdom increased by 15.6% to 2,456 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, visitor flows from Russia increased by 18.9% to 525 thousand, while those from the United States decreased by 2.8% to 640 thousand.
Note: The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for October 2016 will be published on 22 December 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: September 2016 - Table