During the January–June 2026 period, travel receipts recorded a 14.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025, reaching €8,796.3 million, according to data published by the Bank of Greece. This growth was driven by increases in both receipts from residents of EU countries, up 10.7%, and receipts from residents of non-EU countries, up 19.7%. More specifically, receipts from residents of eurozone countries reached €3,777.8 million, while receipts from residents of EU countries outside the eurozone fell by 1.1%.
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Bank of Greece: Travel balance data
According to preliminary figures, the travel balance in June 2026 posted a surplus of €3,116.3 million, compared to a surplus of €3,127.0 million in the same month of 2025. Specifically, travel receipts in June 2026 increased by 1.2%, reaching €3,476.5 million, up from €3,434.6 million in the corresponding month of 2025, while travel payments also rose by 17.1% (June 2026: €360.2 million; June 2025: €307.5 million).
The increase in travel receipts was attributable to a 6.9% rise in inbound tourist arrivals, even as average spending per trip declined by 6.2%. Net receipts from travel services more than offset the goods trade deficit by 119.2% and accounted for 96.1% of total net services receipts.
For the January–June 2026 period, the travel balance recorded a surplus of €6,928.6 million, compared to €6,012.2 million in the same period of 2025. Travel receipts grew by €1,131.9 million, or 14.8%, reaching €8,796.3 million, while travel payments increased by €215.5 million, or 13.0%, reaching €1,867.6 million.
The rise in travel receipts was driven by a 15.4% increase in inbound tourist arrivals, with average spending per trip edging down by just 0.6%. Net receipts from travel services offset 46.3% of the goods trade deficit and contributed 88.8% to total net services receipts.
Inbound tourist arrivals
Inbound tourist arrivals in June 2026 reached 4,921.7 thousand travellers, up 6.9% compared to the same month in 2025. In particular, arrivals through airports increased by 4.0%, while arrivals through road border crossings surged by 20.7% compared to June 2025.
The growth in inbound tourist arrivals was primarily driven by a 12.2% increase in arrivals from EU countries, as arrivals from non-EU countries remained almost unchanged compared to June 2025. More specifically, arrivals from eurozone countries reached 2,413.5 thousand travellers, up 15.8%, while arrivals from EU countries outside the eurozone declined by 2.4%, totalling 503.3 thousand travellers.
