Belgium‘s tourism sector reported an uptick in 2023, with a 4% rise in the number of overnight stays compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 44,696,602 stays.
As well as rebounding from pandemic lows, this indicates that the sector has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, showing a 5% increase over 2019, the data from Statbel, Belgium’s statistical office, showed.
Brussels sees an increase
The Brussels-Capital Region experienced the most significant increase in tourists, reporting a 15% increase in overnight stays last year compared to 2022, however this was still 4% lower than in 2019.
Elsewhere, the Walloon Region reported a 3% increase over 2022 and a 9% increase on 2019, while Flanders also contributed to the positive trend, with a 2% rise compared to 2022 and a 6% increase compared to 2019.
‘For Belgium, Flanders and Wallonia, this is a record number of overnight stays since 2015,’ Statbel said.
On a province-by-province basis, the data reveals a generally positive trajectory, with most provinces witnessing an increase in overnight stays compared to 2022. When compared to 2019, all provinces except Flemish Brabant recorded an increase in overnight stays.
Tourist accommodation
Accommodation-wise, most categories saw increases in overnight stays in 2023, except for holiday homes, which experienced a 4% decrease year-on-year (although numbers were up 9% compared to 2019).
Hotels continued to reign as the most popular accommodation choice in 2023, accounting for 46% of all overnight stays. Holiday homes and apartments followed closely behind, collectively making up 17% of the total stays.
Moreover, the data indicates a positive trend in the origin of tourists. While foreign tourist stays increased by 2% compared to 2019, domestic tourist stays surged by 8%, representing 52% of the total stays in 2023. This shift suggests a growing preference among Belgians for domestic travel.
