Over 18-bln-euro travel services receipts for Greece in 2019: Greek central bank

ATHENS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In 2019 travel services receipts in Greece totaled 18.1 billion euros (19.6 billion U.S. dollars), up by 12.8 percent relative to the previous year, while the number of inbound visitors rose by 4.1 percent to 31.3 million, up from 30.1 million in 2018, the central Bank of Greece said on Friday.

Tourism, a traditional pillar of Greek economy for decades, withstood the severe debt crisis which broke out in late 2009 in the country and has been a key driver of economic growth on its path to economic recovery in recent years, Greek officials have repeatedly noted.

The latest figures provided by the central bank in an e-mailed press release showed that the trend remains positive for the Greek tourism industry.

In 2018 travel receipts stood at 16.08 billion euros, while in 2017 it totaled 14.63 billion euros.

The increase in 2019 was attributed to the increased traveler flows, as well as the rise in average expenditure per trip by 8.5 percent compared to the previous year, according to the bank's press statement. (1 euro= 1.09 U.S. dollars)