Major differences in per diem travel spending by holiday-makers in Greece continued to differentiate tourists from northern Europe, the US, Russia, other EU countries and neighboring states.
By A. Tsimplakis
Major differences in per diem travel spending by holiday-makers in Greece continued to differentiate tourists from northern Europe, the US, Russia, other EU countries and neighboring states.
In a press release issued this week by the Bank of Greece (BoG), provisional data showed that "... the balance of travel services in June 2018 showed a surplus of €2,172 million, compared with a surplus of €1,872 million in June 2017. More specifically, travel receipts in June 2018 rose to €2,330 million (up 16.0%, from €2,008 million in June 2017), but were partly offset by travel payments, which rose to €158 million (up 16.5%, from €135 million in June 2017). The rise in travel receipts was due to a 22.3% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by €28 or 4.7%. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 84.0% of total net receipts from services and more than offset (110.5%) the goods deficit.
In January-June 2018, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €3,762 million, up from a surplus of €3,147 million in the same period of 2017. This development is attributed to an increase, by 18.9% or €771 million, in travel receipts, which were partly offset by travel payments, which rose by 16.8% or €156 million. The rise in travel receipts mainly reflected a 19.1% increase in inbound traveller flows and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the average expenditure per trip by €3 or 0.6%. Net receipts from travel services offset 37.9% of the goods deficit and accounted for 66.8% of total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In June 2018, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 16.0% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 increased by 24.5% to €1,688 million, while receipts from outside the EU28 fell by 1.9% (June 2018: €583 million, June 2017: €595 million). The higher receipts from within the EU28 were due to increases in receipts from euro area residents by 20.1% to €944 million and in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries by 30.6% to €744 million (June 2017: €570 million). Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany rose by 23.1% to €407 million and receipts from France rose by 19.9% to €122 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 6.5% to €414 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia fell by 14.9% to €63 million, while receipts from the United States rose by 10.8% to €131 million.
In January-June 2018, travel receipts totalled €4,848 million, up 18.9% relative to the same period of 2017. This development was driven by a 29.6% increase in receipts from residents of the EU28, which came to €3,422 million, as receipts from residents outside the EU28 edged down by 0.2% to €1,287 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents increased by 29.8% year-on-year to €2,129 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries rose by 29.3% to €1,293 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany rose by 44.5% to €972 million, while receipts from France increased by 11.9% to €276 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 7.0% to €707 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia decreased by 23.4% to €99 million, while receipts from the United States increased by 5.4% to €288 million.
Inbound traveller flows(1)
The number of inbound visitors in June 2018 rose by 22.3% year-on-year to 4,104 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 18.0%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 37.0%. This development is attributed to higher visitor flows from within the EU28 (up 29.7%), as visitor flows from outside the EU28 rose by 5.7%. In greater detail, the number of visitors from within the euro area increased by 16.4% to 1,425 thousand, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 44.5% (June 2018: 1,584 thousand, June 2017: 1,096 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany increased by 24.3% to 568 thousand, while visitors from France increased by 23.6% to 186 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom increased by 15.2% to 578 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, visitors from Russia decreased by 9.2% to 99 thousand, whereas visitors from the United States increased by 21.4% to 150 thousand.
In January-June 2018, the number of inbound visitors rose by 19.1% to 9,456 thousand, compared with 7,941 thousand in the same period of 2017. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 18.3%, as did visitor flows through road border-crossing points, by 22.2%. In the period under review, the number of visitors from within the EU28 rose by 26.2% year-on-year to 6,726 thousand, while visitors from outside the EU28 rose by 4.6% to 2,731 thousand. Visitors from within the euro area rose by 22.3%, as did visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries, by 30.6%. Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany increased by 38.9% to 1,456 thousand, while the number of visitors from France increased by 11.0% to 459 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom rose by 10.5% to 1,058 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia fell by 18.7% to 152 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States rose by 16.5% to 348 thousand."