Developments in the balance of travel services: April 2026
22/06/2026 - Press Releases
- The balance of travel services posted a surplus of €735.9 million in April 2026 and of €1.664.3 million in January-April 2026.
- Travel receipts rose by 9.5% in April 2026 and by 36.9% in January-April 2026.
- Inbound traveller flows increased by 10.6% in April 2026 and by 27.1% in January-April 2026.
Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in April 2026 showed a surplus of €735.9 million, up from a surplus of €697.3 million in April 2025. More specifically, travel receipts rose by 9.5% to €1,114.6 million in April 2026, from €1,017.7 million in April 2025, while travel payments also increased by 18.2% (April 2026: €378.8 million, April 2025: €320.4 million). The rise in travel receipts stemmed from a 10.6% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by 1.0%. Net travel receipts offset 31.5% of the goods deficit and contributed 80.5% to total net receipts from services.
In January-April 2026, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €1,664.3 million, up from a surplus of €1,049.9 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts rose by €752.9 million, or 36.9%, to €2,790.7 million, as did travel payments, by €138.5 million or 14.0%, to €1,126.4 million. The increase in travel receipts stemmed from both a 27.1% rise in inbound traveller flows and an 8.6% increase in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts offset 15.8% of the goods deficit and contributed 78.6% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In April 2026, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 9.5% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 increased by 10.7% to €544.9 million as did receipts from residents of other countries, which grew by 8.2% (April 2026: €512.5 million, April 2025: €473.7 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 was driven by higher receipts mainly from euro area residents by 12.5% (April 2026: €474.6 million, April 2025: €421.9 million), while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries grew by 0.2% to €70.4 million.
Specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany decreased by 21.5% to €140.5 million, whereas receipts from France increased by 1.5% to €78.6 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 38.6% to €45.3 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom rose by 32.0% to €118.4 million, whereas receipts from the United States decreased by 7.4% to €154.8 million.
In January-April 2026, travel receipts totalled €2,790.7 million, up by 36.9% year-on-year. This development is attributed to higher receipts from both EU27 residents, by 38.7% to €1,370.2 million, and residents of other countries, by 37.5% to €1,336.7 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 38.8% to €1,183.8 million and receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 37.7% to €186.3 million.
Specifically, receipts from Germany fell by 10.5% to €263.0 million, whereas receipts from France increased by 12.6% to €123.8 million. Receipts from Italy grew by 57.5% to €159.0 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom increased considerably to €331.7 million, whereas receipts from the United States decreased by 0.8% to €327.3 million.
Inbound traveller flows
The number of inbound travellers in April 2026 rose by 10.6% year-on-year to 1,838.7 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 5.0% year-on-year and those through road border-crossing points grew by 34.1%. This overall increase was due to higher traveller flows from both EU27 countries (up by 15.1%) and other countries (up by 5.7%). In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 14.7% to 859.0 thousand and travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries also increased, by 17.5% to 133.0 thousand.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 2.6% to 237.2 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 6.3% to 110.5 thousand. Travellers from Italy also rose by 15.4% to 81.6 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 53.3% to 195.0 thousand and travellers from the United States by 2.9% to 155.2 thousand.
In January-April 2026, the number of inbound travellers rose by 27.1% to 5,240.4 thousand (January-April 2025: 4,122.2 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 12.8%, as did traveller flows through road border-crossing points, by 67.8%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 rose by 36.1% year-on-year to 2,777.9 thousand, as did travellers from other countries, by 18.3% to 2,462.5 thousand. The number of travellers from within the euro area rose by 31.4% and travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries by 64.3%.
Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 12.4% to 534.5 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 14.1% to 187.9 thousand. Travellers from Italy also increased, by 21.6% to 241.2 thousand. Turning to other countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 51.0% to 445.0 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from the United States declined by 3.4% to 327.8 thousand.
Note:
Inbound traveller flows exclude cruise passengers other than those recorded in the Border Survey.
Related information:
The next Press Release on “Developments in the balance of travel services” for May 2026 will be published on 22 July 2026, in accordance with the 2026 Advance Release Calendar posted on the Bank of Greece website.
Related link:
Detailed and final data on the balance of travel services are published in the
Travel services section of the Bank of Greece website.