Tourism revenues increased by 12.7% in January–May 2025

Tourism revenues recorded a significant increase during the January-May five-month period, despite only a modest rise in inbound tourist arrivals.
According to data from the Bank of Greece, more than 7 million tourists visited the country between January and May 2025, marking a 2.1% increase compared to the same period last year.
However, tourism revenues during this period saw a much larger increase of 12.7%, reaching € 4.35 billion.

Balance of travel services
Based on provisional data, the balance of travel services in May 2025 showed a surplus of € 1,875.8 million, up from a surplus of € 1,623.9 million in May 2024. More specifically, travel receipts in May 2025 rose by 17.7% to € 2,247.8 million, from € 1,909.6 million in May 2024, while travel payments also increased by 30.2% (May 2025: € 372.0 million; May 2024: € 285.7 million). The rise in travel receipts mainly reflected a 21.1% increase in average expenditure per trip, as inbound traveller flows decreased by 2.7%. Net receipts from travel services offset 79.4% of the goods deficit and accounted for 84.9% of total net receipts from services.

In January-May 2025, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of € 3,006.9 million, up from a surplus of € 2,761.1 million in the same period of 2024. Travel receipts rose by € 491.9 million, or 12.7%, to € 4,352.2 million, while travel payments also grew by € 246.1 million, or 22.4%, to € 1,345.3 million. The rise in travel receipts was driven by a 2.1% increase in inbound traveller flows and by a 10.4% rise in average expenditure per trip. Net receipts from travel services offset 21.9% of the goods deficit and accounted for 72.9% of total net receipts from services.

Travel receipts

In May 2025, as mentioned previously, travel receipts rose by 17.7% year-on-year. In more detail, receipts from residents of the EU27 increased by 25.8% to € 1,325.0 million, as did receipts from residents of other countries, by 6.7% (May 2025: € 800.0 million, May 2024: € 749.4 million). The rise in receipts from within the EU27 was driven by increases of 15.1% in receipts from euro area residents (May 2025: € 1,035.7 million, May 2024: € 900.0 million), as well as in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries by 88.6% to € 289.2 million.

More specifically, among major euro area countries of origin, receipts from Germany rose by 16.1% to € 473.5 million, as did receipts from France, by 9.9% to € 153.3 million. Receipts from Italy also grew by 14.0% to € 62.6 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom rose by 8.9% to € 314.1 million, while receipts from the United States dropped by 28.0% to € 112.5 million. Receipts from Russia also increased to € 5.2 million.

In January-May 2025, travel receipts totalled € 4,352.2 million, up by 12.7% year-on-year. This development is due to increases in receipts from EU27 residents by 10.9% to € 2,326.7 million and in receipts from residents of other countries by 15.1% to € 1,813.0 million. In greater detail, receipts from euro area residents rose by 3.6% to € 1,879.8 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries increased by 57.2% to € 446.9 million.

Specifically, receipts from Germany rose by 9.9% to € 771.7 million, whereas receipts from France dropped by 7.8% to € 263.9 million. Receipts from Italy also fell by 4.8% to € 164.7 million. Turning to other countries, receipts from the United Kingdom grew by 13.3% to € 480.6 million, as did receipts from the United States, by 15.9% to € 457.0 million. Lastly, receipts from Russia increased to € 7.9 million.

Inbound traveller flows

The number of inbound travellers in May 2025 fell by 2.7% year-on-year to 2,967.0 thousand. Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 1.0% year-on-year, while traveller flows through road border-crossing points dropped by 21.5%. The decrease in the number of inbound travellers was driven by a decline in inbound traveller flows from EU27 countries by 4.8%, as the number of inbound travellers from other countries rose by 0.8%. In greater detail, the number of travellers from within the euro area dropped by 4.5% to 1,406.2 thousand, while the number of travellers from non-euro area EU27 countries also declined by 6.2% to 365.3 thousand.

Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany decreased by 0.1% to 604.7 thousand, as did the number of travellers from France, by 30.8% to 177.6 thousand. Travellers from Italy also fell by 12.9% to 113.6 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom decreased by 9.1% to 416.2 thousand, as did that of travellers from the United States, by 0.9% to 123.9 thousand. Lastly, the number of travellers from Russia rose to 4.7 thousand.

In January-May 2025, the number of inbound travellers rose by 2.1% to 7,089.2 thousand (January-May 2024: 6,943.9 thousand). Specifically, traveller flows through airports increased by 6.0%, whereas traveller flows through road border-crossing points declined by 9.2%. In the period under review, the number of travellers from within the EU27 fell by 5.1% year-on-year to 3,812.5 thousand. By contrast, the number of travellers from other countries grew by 12.0% to 3,276.7 thousand. The number of visitors from within the euro area fell by 0.5%, while visitors from non-euro area EU27 countries dropped by 19.3%.

Specifically, the number of travellers from Germany rose by 1.5% to 1,080.2 thousand, whereas the number of travellers from France fell by 27.1% to 342.2 thousand. Travellers from Italy also decreased by 11.7% to 311.9 thousand. Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom rose by 6.7% to 710.8 thousand, as did the number of travellers from the United States, by 18.1% to 463.4 thousand. Lastly, the number of travellers from Russia rose to 7.5 thousand.

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