Belgium sees nearly 45m overnight stays in 2024
Holiday accommodation establishments in Belgium recorded a total of 44.89 million overnight stays last year, with more than a quarter of these during the summer holiday season, according to initial estimates from the Belgian statistical office, Statbel. Tourists from neighbouring countries and the USA are the most frequent visitors.
The number of overnight stays rose by 194,000 compared with 2023, an increase of 0.4 per cent. Just over half of these were booked by Belgian residents (23.1 million or 51.7 per cent), while the rest were international visitors.
Belgium remains particularly popular with travellers from neighbouring countries, with Dutch tourists accounting for 6.1 million overnight stays, followed by Germans, French and British. American tourists also showed strong interest, booking almost 960,000 overnight stays.
Flanders continued to attract the majority of visitors, accounting for 62.9 per cent of all overnight stays. The region recorded 28 million bookings, an increase of 0.6 per cent compared to 2023. Among the most visited destinations are the historic art cities: Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen, with Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent proving particularly popular.
Antwerp, Belgium's second largest city, is on the river Scheldt and is both a major international port and an important centre for the diamond trade. The city is also closely associated with the legacy of Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, whose influence remains evident in its cultural heritage.
Often referred to as the "Venice of the North", Bruges is one of Europe's most popular medieval cities, attracting visitors from all over the world. Its picturesque canals offer the opportunity to explore the historic centre by boat.
Ghent is famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture, including Gravensteen Castle, the former stronghold of the Counts of Flanders. Just outside the city, Flanders Expo is a venue for trade fairs attracting both Belgian and international companies.
In Brussels, the number of overnight stays rose by 3.5 per cent to 7.1 million, while in Wallonia, the number fell by 2.4 per cent to 9.5 million.
Hotels remained the preferred choice for visitors, accounting for almost 21 million overnight stays. Holiday cottages, apartments and gîtes recorded an increase of 1.6 per cent, while holiday resorts, villages and bed and breakfasts all fell.
#FlandersNewsService | The Graslei in the centre of Ghent © PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
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