Belgian coast sees record tourist numbers, nearing pre-pandemic levels

Belgium's coastline experienced a surge in tourism this summer, with July and August drawing 6.1 million day-trippers. This figure marks the highest number of visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a strong recovery in domestic travel.

Overall, 11.2 million people stayed overnight along the coast. Flemish visitors constituted the largest group at 60%, followed by 23% from Wallonia. This means 17% of overnight guests came from abroad, highlighting the coast's appeal to international tourists as well.

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The coast can look back on a wonderful summer holiday.

Jurgen Vanlerberghe, tourism representative for Vooruit, described the summer as "wonderful." July alone set a record with 5.6 million overnight stays, with August expected to match that number. The total of 11.2 million overnight stays represents a nearly 10% increase from the previous year and is the highest since the pandemic era. This figure encompasses stays in hotels, campsites, B&Bs, holiday homes, and other accommodations.

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July was already a record month for the coast with 5.6 million overnight stays.

Day-tripper numbers, measured by mobile phone data, also saw a significant rise. July recorded 2.9 million day visitors, and August saw approximately 3.2 million. This represents a 10% increase compared to last year. The pleasant summer weather helped distribute visitors evenly across the two months, preventing extreme peaks on specific days.

Vanlerberghe noted that while the absolute record numbers from the pandemic period, when international travel was restricted, have not yet been surpassed, the current figures are very close. He emphasized that the strong performance, despite the lifting of all travel restrictions, speaks volumes about the coast's enduring appeal. The success is not solely due to the heat; a packed calendar of concerts, festivals, and cultural events, such as a David Guetta concert, also significantly boosted visitor numbers and bookings.

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The fact that the figures are in the same line says a lot.