The Bank of Greece published provisional data showing that Greece’s travel services surplus widened to EUR 15,420.3 million in January-August 2026 from EUR 14,335.2 million a year earlier. Travel receipts increased by 9.4% to EUR 18,197.5 million, driven by a 10.0% rise in inbound traveller flows, while average expenditure per trip remained almost unchanged. In August alone, receipts grew more slowly than arrivals as spending per trip declined. August travel receipts rose by 6.5% year on year to EUR 4,867.3 million, with inbound traveller flows increasing by 13.4% to 8.47 million and average expenditure per trip falling by 6.5%. Receipts from European Union residents rose by 19.2%, while those from residents of other countries fell by 11.5%. Among major source markets, receipts from the United Kingdom declined by 32.8%, contrasting with increases of 24.2% from Germany and 52.3% from the United States. Travel payments rose by 51.6% to EUR 486.0 million, leaving the monthly surplus at EUR 4,381.2 million, compared with EUR 4,248.1 million in August 2025. Over January-August, inbound traveller flows reached 28.51 million, with arrivals through road border crossings growing by 22.6%, compared with 5.7% through airports. Travel payments increased by 20.5% to EUR 2,777.2 million. Net travel receipts offset 71.5% of the goods deficit and accounted for 92.3% of total net receipts from services.
Bank of Greece reports travel receipts up 9.4% in January-August 2026, lifting travel surplus to EUR 15.42 billion
Bank of Greece provisional data show that the travel services surplus reached EUR 15.42 billion in January-August 2026, as receipts rose by 9.4% to EUR 18.20 billion and inbound traveller flows increased by 10.0%. In August, receipts grew by 6.5% despite a 13.4% increase in arrivals, reflecting a 6.5% decline in average expenditure per trip. Net travel receipts covered 71.5% of the goods deficit over the eight months.