Greek tourism 2020: Loss of 20.8 million tourists and €12.6 billion in first 9 months

Based on provisional data by the Bank of Greece, the balance of travel services in September 2020 showed a surplus of €777 million, compared with a surplus of €2,672 million in September 2019. More specifically, travel receipts in September 2020 fell by 71.4% to €826 million, from €2,886 million in September 2019, while travel payments also decreased by 77.1% (September 2020: €49 million, September 2019: €214 million). The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 73.9% decline in inbound traveler flows, as average expenditure per trip rose by 12.1%. Net receipts from travel services offset 52.1% of the goods deficit and accounted for 72.8% of total net receipts from services.

In January-September 2020, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,868 million, down from a surplus of €14,095 million in the same period of 2019. Travel receipts fell by €12,598 million or 78.2% to €3,509 million, while travel payments also decreased, by €1,371 million or 68.1% to €641 million. The drop in travel receipts stemmed from a 2.2% fall in average expenditure per trip and a 77.2% decrease in inbound traveler flows. Net receipts from travel services offset 20.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 50.8% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts 

In September 2020, as mentioned previously, travel receipts declined by 71.4% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of EU27 countries fell by 63.9% to €572 million, while receipts from outside the EU27 decreased by 79.5% (September 2020: €254 million, September 2019: €1,237 million). The lower receipts from within the EU27 were due to decreases in receipts from euro area residents by 59.6% to €493 million (September 2019: €1,220 million) and in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries by 78.3% to €79 million. Among major countries of origin, receipts from Germany fell by 52.1% to €255 million and receipts from France decreased by 54.3% to €77 million. Turning to non-EU27 countries, receipts from the United Kingdom fell by 57.8% to €192 million, while receipts from the United States decreased by 98.7% to €3 million. Receipts from Russia also decreased, by 99.1% to €1 million.

In January-September 2020, travel receipts totaled €3,509 million, down by 78.2% relative to the same period of 2019. This development was driven by a 73.4% decline in receipts from residents of EU27 countries, which came to €2,321 million, and by an 83.0% drop in receipts from residents of non-EU27 countries to €1,186 million. In particular, receipts from euro area residents decreased by 72.4% to €1,903 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries fell by 77.4% to €418 million. Specifically, receipts from Germany dropped by 69.4% to €785 million and receipts from France fell by 68.9% to €310 million. Turning to non-EU27 countries, receipts from the United Kingdom dropped by 73.9% to €619 million and receipts from the United States decreased by 92.9% to €72 million. Receipts from Russia also decreased, by 96.9% to €12 million.

Inbound traveler flows

The number of inbound visitors in September 2020 fell by 73.9% year-on-year to 1,335 thousand. Specifically, visitor flows through airports declined by 63.3% and visitor flows through road border-crossing points fell by 95.1%. This overall decrease was due to lower visitor flows from both within the EU27 (down 70.2%) and outside the EU27 (down 79.9%). In greater detail, the number of visitors from within the euro area fell by 54.7% to 767 thousand, while visitors from non-euro area EU27 countries fell by 87.9% (September 2020: 179 thousand, September 2019: 1,483 thousand). Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany decreased by 42.3% to 377 thousand, while visitors from France also fell by 51.8% to 113 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of visitors from the United Kingdom fell by 54.3% to 300 thousand, while visitors from the United States dropped by 98.0% to 4 thousand and visitors from Russia decreased by 99.0% to 1 thousand.

In January-September 2020, the number of inbound visitors fell by 77.2% to 6,147 thousand (January-September 2019: 26,953 thousand). Specifically, visitor flows through airports declined by 74.5% and visitor flows through road border-crossing points fell by 82.9%. In the period under review, visitors from within the EU27 dropped by 74.6% year-on-year to 4,088 thousand, while visitors from outside the EU27 decreased by 81.0% to 2,059 thousand. The number of visitors from within the euro area fell by 70.7%, while visitors from non-euro area EU27 countries dropped by 80.2%. Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany fell by 66.7% to 1,103 thousand, while visitors from France decreased by 72.2% to 385 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of visitors from the United Kingdom fell by 73.7% to 828 thousand, while visitors from the United States dropped by 90.2% to 97 thousand and visitors from Russia decreased by 95.1% to 23 thousand.

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