(Adds 2022 figures, foreign arrivals, reserves)
ATHENS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Greece's current account
deficit widened last year compared to 2021, as increased imports
outpaced exports despite strong tourism revenues, data from the
Bank of Greece showed on Monday.
Central bank data showed the current account deficit was
20.14 billion euros ($21.54 billion) last year from 12.27
billion euros in 2021.
"A rise in the deficit of the balance of goods is accounted
for by a larger increase in imports than in exports," the Bank
of Greece said.
Stripping out fuels, exports grew by 7.0% at constant prices
while imports increased 15.5%, the central bank said.
Tourism revenue rose to 17.6 billion euros in 2022 from 10.5
billion euros the previous year thanks to a strong rebound in
arrivals as the sector recovered strongly after the COVID-19
pandemic.
Foreign arrivals were up by 89% in 2022, equating to nearly
89% of the level in 2019, a record year for tourism.
At the end of December, Greek reserve assets dropped to 11.3
billion euros, from 12.8 billion at the end of 2021, the data
showed.
($1 = 0.9348 euros)
(Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Reuters Messaging: angeliki.koutantou.reuters.com@reuters.net))
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