Tourism: “Small basket” of expectations from businesses in June

The tourism business expectations index recorded a slight decline in June, reflecting the moderate optimism of professionals in the sector in the midst of the summer season.

According to the data presented in the Economic Survey of the Institute of Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE) for June 2025, the index for the Hotels, Restaurants and Travel Agencies sectors fell to 131.5 points, from 137.3 points in May, signaling a mild decline in expectations from businesses.

Estimates for the current situation of businesses decreased to +31 points from +37 in the previous month, while a decline was also recorded in estimates for current demand, which stood at +29 points from +33 in May.

At the same time, a weakening is also observed in expectations for the short-term development of demand, which decreased significantly to +47 points, compared to +56 in May 2025, an indication that entrepreneurs are viewing the continuation of the summer season with greater caution.

The picture is similar in employment, where the strongly positive forecasts are declining slightly and are at +65 (from +77) points, with businesses concerned about new hires and filling job vacancies.

The increase in operating costs, raw materials and energy seems to continue to "inflate" prices in accommodation and catering, with the price index reaching strongly inflationary levels (+76 points).

The business expectations index is based on estimates of the current situation of businesses and demand, as well as on forecasts for their course in the near future.

The Business Expectations Index for Services increased slightly in June, to 113.3 points, from 112 in May. Of the individual variables of the index, positive assessments of the current situation of businesses increased slightly, as did positive assessments of current demand, with optimistic forecasts for the short-term development of demand declining sharply.

In more detail, the index of assessments of the current situation of businesses is moving at slightly higher levels compared to the previous month, at +36 points, with the index of assessments of current demand reaching +35 points from +31 points in the previous period.

Forecasts for demand for the next quarter are moving slightly downwards to +25 (from +31) points, with employment forecasts remaining unchanged at +25 points. In prices, the relative balance is maintained at inflationary levels at +24 points. When asked about the degree of uncertainty in the economic environment, 40% believe that future growth can be predicted with difficulty or relatively difficulty, marginally higher than the previous month.