Over 14.66 billion euros in tourist receipts and 22.649 million tourists in the eight months

Greek tourism is performing better than the level of 2019, as a result of which tourist revenues will set a record in the eight months of 2023

Specifically, tourist receipts are estimated at 14.66 billion euros in the period January – August 2023, compared to 13.22 billion in the last year before the pandemic. Especially for August, revenues were 4.35 billion euros, compared to 4.1 billion in 2019 with the growth rate limited to 6%. At the same time, the tourists who arrived in our country during the same period exceeded 22.649 million!

The data

According to the provisional data of the Central Bank, the travel balance in August 2023 showed a surplus of 4,106.8 million euros, compared to a surplus of 3,948.5 million euros in the corresponding month of 2022. In particular, an increase of 5.2% was recorded in August 2023 travel receipts, which amounted to 4,350.7 million euros, compared to 4,134.8 million euros in the corresponding month of 2022, while a 30.9% increase was also observed in travel payments (August 2023: 243.9 million euros, August 2022: 186.3 million euros). The increase in travel receipts was driven by a 10.4% rise in inbound travel traffic as average spend per trip fell 5.1%. Net receipts from the provision of travel services contributed 90.9% to total net receipts from services and more than offset (135.6%) the deficit in the goods balance.

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In the period January-August 2023, the travel balance showed a surplus of 13,045.1 million euros, compared to a surplus of 11,470.4 million euros in the corresponding period of 2022. An increase of 1,943.9 million euros (15.3%) was presented by travel collections, which amounted to 14,663.3 million euros, while an increase of 369.2 million euros (29.6%) was also observed in travel payments, which amounted to 1,618.3 million euros. The rise in travel receipts was driven by an 18.4% increase in inbound travel traffic as average spend per trip fell by 3.4%. Net receipts from the provision of travel services offset 62.1% of the deficit in the goods balance and contributed 84.2% to total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In August 2023, as mentioned above, travel receipts increased by 5.2% compared to the corresponding month of 2022. More specifically, receipts from residents of the EU-27 countries showed an increase of 1.5%, which were formed in €2,539.8 million, while receipts from non-EU-27 residents increased by 10.2% (August 2023: €1,725.5 million, August 2022: €1,565.9 million). The rise in receipts from residents of the EU-27 countries was the result of a 0.4% increase in receipts from residents of the euro area countries (August 2023: €1,994.6 million, August 2022: €1,987.5 million). euros), as well as receipts from residents of EU-27 countries outside the euro zone by 5.7% to 545.2 million euros. In particular, with regard to the most important countries of origin of travelers from the euro zone, receipts from Germany decreased by 12.7% and amounted to 625.6 million euros, while those from France increased by 4.6% to 379, 7 million euros. From countries outside the EU-27, receipts from the United Kingdom fell by 5.9% to €755.0 million, while those from the USA fell by 6.6% to €188. 7 million euros. Revenue from Russia decreased by 54.1% and amounted to 3.2 million euros.

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In the period January-August 2023, travel receipts showed an increase of 15.3% compared to the corresponding period of 2022 and amounted to 14,663.3 million euros. This development is due to the increase in receipts from residents of EU-27 countries by 9.8%, which amounted to 8,155.4 million euros, as well as receipts from residents of non-EU-27 countries by 21.3 %, which amounted to 6,104.3 million euros. In more detail, receipts from residents of the euro zone countries amounted to 6,518.6 million euros, increased by 9.7%, while receipts from residents of the EU-27 countries outside the euro zone showed an increase of 10.1 % and amounted to 1,636.8 million euros. In particular, receipts from Germany increased by 1.1% and amounted to 2,346.0 million euros, while receipts from France increased by 14.3% and amounted to 1,136.3 million euros. From the countries outside the EU-27, receipts from the United Kingdom showed an increase of 4.9%, which amounted to 2,360.3 million euros. US receipts rose 24.5% to $938.0 million euros, while those from Russia increased by 2.9% and amounted to 26.7 million euros.

Inbound travel traffic

Inbound travel traffic in August 2023 amounted to 6,478.8 thousand travelers, increased by 10.4% compared to the corresponding month in 2022. In particular, travel traffic through airports increased by 5.1% compared to August of 2022 and this through road border stations by 25.7%. The increase in inbound travel came from a rise in travel from both EU-27 countries by 6.3% and from non-EU-27 countries by 18.4%. In more detail, the travel traffic from the countries of the euro zone amounted to 2,518 thousand travelers, increased by 1.8%. Travel traffic from the EU-27 countries outside the euro area also showed an increase of 14.3%, which amounted to 1,589.7 thousand travelers. In particular, travel traffic from Germany decreased by 7.1% to 768.4 thousand travelers, while that from France decreased by 3.7% to 397.9 thousand travelers. In relation to countries outside the EU-27, travel traffic from the United Kingdom decreased by 5.8% and amounted to 919.7 thousand travelers, while that from the USA increased by 50.3% to 200.3 thousand. travelers. Finally, travel traffic from Russia showed a decrease of 14.2% and amounted to 5.9 thousand travelers.

2023 in running to beat out 2019 as best tourism season ever in Greece

In the period January-August 2023, inbound travel traffic increased by 18.4% and amounted to 22,649.1 thousand travelers, compared to 19,126.4 thousand travelers in the corresponding period of 2022. In particular, travel traffic through airports increased by 12 .4%, while this through road border stations by 38.4%. During the reviewed period, travel traffic from EU-27 countries amounted to 13,827.6 thousand travelers, showing an increase of 15.9% compared to the corresponding period of 2022, while travel traffic from countries outside the EU- 27 increased by 22.6% and amounted to 8,821.5 thousand travelers. Travel traffic from euro area countries increased by 10.3%, while travel traffic from EU-27 countries outside the euro area increased by 27.7%. In particular, travel traffic from Germany increased by 6.1% and reached 3,070.1 thousand travelers, while that from France increased by 7.3% and reached 1,410.3 thousand travelers. With reference to countries outside the EU 27, travel traffic from the United Kingdom increased by 0.3% to 3,016.0 thousand travelers and that from the USA by 44.9% to 937.7 thousand travelers. Finally, travel traffic from Russia decreased by 5.0% and amounted to 25.5 thousand travelers.