
The travel balance showed a travel surplus of 2,061 million euros in September 2021 and 8,033 million euros in the period January-September 2021, according to data released by the Bank of Greece.
Travel receipts increased by 150.8% in September 2021 and by 139.3% in the period January-September 2021.
Incoming travel traffic increased by 124.4% in September 2021 and by 89.0% in the period January-September 2021.
Travel balance
In particular, according to the provisional data, the travel balance in September 2021 showed a surplus of 2,061 million euros, compared to a surplus of 816 million euros in the corresponding month of 2020.
In particular, travel receipts increased by 150.8% in September 2021, amounting to 2,176 million euros, compared to 868 million euros in the corresponding month of 2020, while an increase of 120.1% was also observed in travel payments ( September 2021: EUR 115 million, September 2020: EUR 52 million). The increase in travel receipts is due to the increase in incoming travel traffic by 124.4%, as well as the average expenditure per trip by 10.7%. Net receipts from travel services offset by 89.6% the goods balance deficit and contributed 85.9% to total net receipts from services.
In the period January-September 2021, the travel balance showed a surplus of 8,033 million euros, compared to a surplus of 3,001 million euros in the corresponding period of 2020. An increase of 5,097 million euros (139.3%) was presented by travel receipts, which were formed in EUR 8,758 million, while an increase of EUR 66 million (10.0%) was also observed in travel payments, which amounted to EUR 725 million. The increase in travel receipts is due to the increase in incoming travel traffic by 89.0%, as well as the average expenditure per trip by 25.5%. Net receipts from travel services offset by 45.1% the goods deficit and contributed 77.6% to total net receipts from services.
Travel receipts
In September 2021, as mentioned above, travel receipts increased by 150.8% compared to the corresponding month of 2020. More specifically, receipts from residents of EU-27 countries increased by 123.4%, which were came to EUR 1,348 million, while receipts from residents of non-EU-27 countries increased by 206.1% (September 2021: EUR 801 million, September 2020: EUR 262 million). The increase in receipts from residents of EU-27 countries was a result of the increase in receipts from residents of euro area countries by 108.6% (September 2021: € 1,088 million, September 2020: € 521 million), as well as and by residents of EU-27 countries outside the euro area by 216.9%, which amounted to 260 million euros. In particular, for the most important countries of origin of travelers from the euro area, receipts from Germany increased by 79.5% to 517 million euros and those from France increased by 132.1% to 177 million euros. From outside the EU-27, receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 110.9% to € 398 million, while receipts from the US increased by 3,450.1% to € 147 million. euro. Receipts from Russia also increased by 1,250.8% and amounted to 10 million euros.
In the period January-September 2021, travel receipts increased by 139.3% compared to the corresponding period of 2020 and amounted to 8,758 million euros. This development is due to the increase of receipts from residents of EU-27 countries by 140.5%, which amounted to 5,813 million euros, as well as receipts from residents of non-EU-27 countries by 124.0%, which amounted to EUR 2,773 million. More specifically, receipts from residents of euro area countries amounted to 4,574 million euros, increased by 127.9%, while receipts from residents of EU-27 countries outside the euro area increased by 202.0% and amounted to at 1,239 million euros. In particular, receipts from Germany increased by 103.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2020 and amounted to 1,781 million euros, while receipts from France increased by 189.3% and amounted to 908 million euros. From outside the EU-27, receipts from the United Kingdom increased by 85.7% to € 1,185 million. Receipts from the US increased by 538.7% and amounted to 487 million euros, while those from Russia increased by 465.1% and amounted to 68 million euros.
Incoming travel traffic
Incoming travel traffic in September 2021 amounted to 2,995 thousand travelers, an increase of 124.4% compared to the corresponding month of 2020. In particular, travel through airports increased by 104.4% compared to September 2020 and this through road border stations by 450.3%. The increase in incoming travel traffic was a result of the increase in travel traffic from both EU-27 countries by 114.9% and from non-EU-27 countries by 147.4%. More specifically, travel traffic from the euro area countries amounted to 1,509 thousand travelers, increased by 96.6%. Travel traffic from EU-27 countries outside the euro area also increased by 193.4%, reaching 525 thousand travelers.
In particular, travel traffic from Germany increased by 80.4% to 680 thousand travelers, while that from France increased by 105.7% to 231 thousand travelers. Regarding non-EU-27 countries, travel from the United Kingdom increased by 50.8% to 452 thousand travelers and from the USA by 2,068.9% to 85 thousand travelers. Finally, travel traffic from Russia also increased by 1,474.4% and amounted to 13 thousand travelers.
In the period January-September 2021, the incoming travel traffic increased by 89.0% and amounted to 11,619 thousand travelers, compared to 6,147 thousand travelers in the corresponding period of 2020. In particular, travel traffic through airports increased by 100.0%, while through road border stations it increased by 57.4%. During the period under review, travel traffic from EU-27 countries amounted to 8,235 thousand travelers, showing an increase of 101.4% compared to the corresponding period of 2020. Travel traffic from non-EU-27 countries came to 3,384 thousand travelers, increased by 64.4%. Travel traffic from euro area countries increased by 107.8% and that from EU-27 countries outside the euro area by 87.9%. In particular, travel traffic from Germany increased by 100.6% and amounted to 2,213 thousand travelers, while that from France increased by 161.6% to 1,006 thousand travelers. Regarding non-EU-27 countries, travel traffic from the United Kingdom increased by 42.0% to 1,175 thousand travelers, while that from the United States increased by 206.2% to 296 thousand travelers. Finally, travel traffic from Russia increased by 188.6% and amounted to 67 thousand travelers.


Latest News

Public Services in Greece to Go Under Review with New Rating Tool
Public services will receive their evaluation scores and feedback directly, fostering a system of accountability and continuous improvement.

Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”

Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.

Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)