BoE: tourism revenues increased by 70.7% in the first two months of 2026

Significant growth was seen in the two months January to February 2026 in both tourism revenue and tourist arrivals.

More specifically, according to Trapeza of Greece, non-resident traveler arrivals increased by 38.5% and related receipts by 70.7%. As a result, the surplus in the Balance of Services increased to 660 million euros from 550 million euros in the same period last year.

However, following the postponement of publication by Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) of the Greek Trade in Goods data for the reference month of February 2026, which is the main source for the compilation of the Bank of Greece’s balance of goods, the BoE will not publish the data of the goods balance, as well as the balances that comprise it, such as the current account, until the relevant data are released by ELSTAT.

Otherwise, the capital account showed a deficit, compared with a surplus in the first two months of 2025, and stood at EUR 263.0 million, due on the one hand to the near-zero net receipts in the general government sector and on the other hand to the increase in net payments in the other, non-general government, sectors of the economy.

In the category of direct investments, residents’ claims on the rest of the world recorded increases of 1.1 billion. EUR and residents’ liabilities to the rest of the world, which correspond to direct investments of non-residents in Greece, recorded increases of EUR 3.0 billion.

In portfolio investments, the increase in residents’ claims on the rest of the world is mainly due to an increase of 615.7 million in increases of 615.7 million in the amount of investments in the portfolio. EUR 156.6 million of residents’ investments in shares of non-resident companies and, to a lesser extent, the increase of EUR 186.0 million of residents’ investments in foreign bonds and bills. The increase in their liabilities was mainly due to a rise of €5.6 billion in non-residents’ holdings of Greek bonds and bills, which was partly offset by a decrease of €1.3 billion in non-residents’ holdings of shares of domestic corporations.