Greek tourism 2017: German travelers drive revenue and arrivals growth

Greece achieved a large rise in travel receipts from Germany during the 11-month period from January to November 2017, making a significant contribution to the overall rise in revenues.

Based on provisional data, in November 2017 the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €103 million, up 81.4% from a surplus of €57 million in November 2016. More specifically, travel receipts in November 2017 rose by 1.3% to €225 million, from €222 million in the same month of 2016, whereas travel payments decreased by 26.0% (November 2017: €123 million, November 2016: €166 million). The rise in travel receipts is attributed to a 3.3% increase in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip fell by 1.5% to €281. Net receipts from travel services accounted for 21.3% of total net receipts from services and offset 7.6% of the goods deficit.

In January-November 2017, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €12,670 million, up 13.6% from a surplus of €11,156 million in the same period of 2016. This development was driven by an increase of €1,388 million or 10.7% in travel receipts and a decrease of €126 million or 6.7% in travel payments. The rise in travel receipts is attributed mostly to a 9.9% increase in inbound traveller flows and, to a lesser extent, to a 1.3% rise in average expenditure per trip. Net receipts from travel services offset 75.1% of the goods deficit and accounted for 74.8% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In November 2017, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 1.3% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU28 increased by 7.2% to €130 million, whereas receipts from outside the EU28 fell by 6.1% (November 2017: €78 million, November 2016: €83 million). The higher receipts from within the EU28 were due to increases by 8.2% in receipts from euro area residents (November 2017: €80 million, November 2016: €74 million) and by 5.8% from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries (November 2017: €50 million, November 2016: €48 million). Breaking down receipts by visitor’s country of origin, receipts from France fell by 13.4% to €6 million, whereas receipts from Germany increased by 40.9% to €35 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom decreased by 7.3% to €19 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia decreased by 51.8% to €4 million, whereas receipts from the United States increased by 55.2% to €17 million.

In January-November 2017, travel receipts increased by 10.7% year-on-year to €14,413 million. This development is attributed to increases in receipts from within the EU28 by 14.0% to €9,747 million and in receipts from outside the EU28 by 5.5% to €4,243 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents rose by 20.9% to €6,212 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU28 countries also increased, by 3.6% to €3,536 million. Specifically, receipts from France rose by 17.4% to €989 million, as did receipts from Germany, by 31.9% to €2,539 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom also increased, by 11.6% to €2,044 million. Turning to non-EU28 countries, receipts from Russia decreased by 3.2% to €414 million, whereas receipts from the United States rose by 4.8% to €791 million.

Inbound traveller flows 

In November 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 3.3% year-on-year to 741 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 11.1%, whereas visitor flows through road border-crossing points decreased by 4.4%. This development is attributed to a 6.0% rise in visitor flows from within the EU28, as visitor flows from outside the EU28 declined by 1.2%. In greater detail, visitors from the euro area increased by 18.0% to 212 thousand, whereas visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries decreased by 2.0% (November 2017: 262 thousand, November 2016: 267 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 13.1% to 17 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 49.1% to 89 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom decreased by 17.8% to 42 thousand. Turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia fell by 48.4% to 7 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States rose by 41.3% to 32 thousand.

In January-November 2017, the number of inbound visitors rose by 9.9% to 26,632 thousand (January-November 2016: 24,235 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports increased by 10.0%, while visitor flows through road border-crossing points also increased, by 9.3%. In the period under review, the number of visitors from within the EU28 increased by 8.3% year-on-year to 18,282 thousand, as did the number of visitors from outside the EU28, by 13.6% to 8,349 thousand. Visitors from the euro area increased by 10.7%, while visitors from the non-euro area EU28 countries also rose, by 5.7%. Specifically, the number of visitors from France increased by 8.2% to 1,412 thousand, as did the number of visitors from Germany, by 18.3% to 3,668 thousand. Visitors from the United Kingdom also increased, by 3.5% to 2,958 thousand. Finally, turning to non-EU28 countries, the number of visitors from Russia decreased by 0.7% to 580 thousand, whereas the number of visitors from the United States rose by 11.0% to 839 thousand. 

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