Some 9.3 million trips were made either within or from Belgium during the third quarter of 2024, new data from Statbel has found, a 6.6% increase on the previous year.
According to the data, the figures set a new record, exceeding those of the pre-pandemic year of 2019 by 3.8%.
Some 2 million domestic trips and 7.3 million trips abroad were recorded in the quarter, equating to an increase of 11.6% and 5.3%, respectively.
Top destination for travellers
France remained the top international destination for Belgian travellers, with 2.5 million trips recorded in the summer of 2024, a 4% increase on the previous year.
Spain recorded the biggest increase in travellers, year-on-year, meanwhile, with trips to Spanish destinations rising by 9%, according to the data.
Travel outside of Europe also experienced significant growth during the period, with 750,000 trips taken, a 34.5% increase compared to the previous year.
In terms of the most popular destinations within Belgium, the Ardennes region reported a 34.5% increase in trips compared to the same period in 2023. Other domestic destinations also reported growth, with visits to the Belgian Coast rising by 12.3% and trips to art cities (such as Bruges, Liege and Ghent) growing by 1.1%. Read more here.
