Tourism is a key for Greece's 230 billion euro economy and accounts for about a fifth of gross domestic product (GDP). It has helped reduce the country's current account gap, which shrank to 10.5 percent of GDP last year. 

 

Overall, the sector's balance of payments showed a surplus of 2.071bn euros in August, up by 49.8 million year-on-year. 

 

The Bank of Greece said travel receipts grew to 2.378bn euros in August with visitors spending an average of 709 euros per trip, up 0.2 percent from the same month a year ago. 

 

It said the number of travelers visiting the country rose 6.2 percent in August to 3.353m. 

 

Tourism receipts from European Union residents visiting Greece grew 8.7 percent year-on-year in August with revenue from non-EU travellers up only 0.9 percent. 

 

Looking at the country's two main tourism markets, receipts from German tourists rose 26.4 percent, while those coming from British travellers were down 11.4 percent. 

 

The Bank of Greece said revenue from Russian visitors grew 11.5 percent from the same month a year earlier. (Reuters)