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Tourism in Belgium Recovering Post-Pandemic

Belgian nationals are crossing the border more frequently now than during the pandemic, indicating progress in the tourism industry. According to a Tourism Flanders report, the sector is recovering, though there are some new travel and tourism patterns among Belgians, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com. Because of the pandemic, many Belgians chose to travel and spend their vacations within their own country, which has become a common practice among all Europeans.

“I have seen from the front row how difficult our tourist entrepreneurs have had it during COVID-19, but I am especially proud that, despite everything, they never gave up, and now again receive plenty of visitors from home and abroad to enjoy all the assets that make Flanders such a unique tourist destination,” Peter De Wilde, CEO of Tourism Flanders noted.

During the pandemic, the number of last-minute booked trips increased significantly, with most occurring up to two weeks before departure. This average was a month in advance in 2022, but booking periods are now approaching 2019 levels.

Furthermore, the report reveals that traveling by car became popular during the COVID-19 crisis, but this is no longer common as of the summer of 2021, when flying has regained popularity.

Since the pandemic, tourists have prioritized cleanliness and atmosphere in accommodations and attractions, according to the report, and getting sick while traveling has become a major concern that persists to this day. Furthermore, there is a greater emphasis on striking, as well as booking and cancellation conditions.

According to data from StatBel, the number of overnight stays for May reached 3.8 million, with the most nights recorded being spent at hotels (46 per cent), holiday homes and apartments (17 per cent), and holiday centres and holiday villages (11 per cent).

Furthermore, the number of overnight stays in May exceeded those in the same period in 2021 by 107% and those in May 2020 by 5132 percent, when only 73,168 overnight stays were recorded. Furthermore, the number of nights spent in May 2022 has surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 8%, indicating positive results for this period.

As per regions, the Flemish Region recorded 2.4 million overnight stays, followed by the Walloon Region with 831,121 overnight stays and the Brussels-Capital Region where tourists spent 581,025 nights – up by 405 per cent and 6506 per cent compared to May 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

 

Source : schengenvisainfo