Greece has consistently recorded a surplus in its services balance with France.
According to available data, in 2024, Greece’s services balance surplus with France recorded a slight decrease of 24.27%, compared to 2023, reaching 1.06 billion euros.
Greece’s receipts from France recorded a decrease of 10.7% in 2024, reaching 2 billion euros, while payments recorded an increase of 11.86% and a value of 943 million euros.
According to Eurostat data and based on the updated edition of the Balance of Payments Manual, travel services took first place among Greece’s receipts from trade in services with France, with an overwhelming share of 70% of total receipts from France. Transport follows. It is noted that of all transport receipts, approximately half concerns maritime transport. Other business services are in 3rd place in the ranking. These include research and development services, advertising and market research services, legal, accounting, consulting and technical services. They are followed by telecommunications and information technology services, as well as insurance and pension services.
Greece’s travel receipts from France in 2024 amounted to 1.259 billion euros, down 11.6% compared to 2023. French tourist arrivals in Greece in 2024 amounted to 1.99 million travelers, up 8.8% compared to 2023.
Overall, the share corresponding to France in total travel arrivals in our country amounted to 4.9% in 2024, with the country being the 4th most important country of origin of tourists, after Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is worth noting that French tourists in Greece increased from 1.54 million in 2019, before the pandemic crisis, to 1.99 million in 2024. This is a leap of 29% in six years.
Regarding Greece’s payments to France, according to the 6th edition of the Balance of Payments Manual, transport ranks first among Greece’s payments to France. Travel services follow. Other business services are in 3rd place in the ranking based on share. Insurance and pension services, as well as telecommunications and IT services, follow with a small difference.
The information comes from the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Paris.
