The number of overnight stays in Belgian tourist accommodations was 2,760,034 in December 2022. At national level, most overnight stays were in hotels (58%), holiday homes and apartments (15%) and holiday parks (14%).
The number of overnight stays in December 2022[1] was 39% higher than in December 2021 (1,986,277), 320% higher than in December 2020 (656,750) and 1% lower than in December 2019 (2,780,760).
In the Walloon Region, there were 527,256 overnight stays, which represents an increase of 20% and 236% respectively compared to December 2021 and December 2020 and a decrease of 3% compared to December 2019.
In the Flemish Region, there were 1,632,790 overnight stays, which is an increase of 35%, 269% and 4% respectively compared to December 2021, December 2020 and December 2019.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, the number of overnight stays was 599,988. This is an increase of 79% and 948% respectively compared to December 2021 and 2020. The Brussels-Capital Region recorded a decrease of 10% compared to December 2019.
Remarks
Holiday parks and camping sites had to close from 3 November 2020 to 7 February 2021. Hotels and B&Bs could stay open, but restaurants and bars had to close. Meals had to be taken in the room.
As of 8 February, holiday villages and camping sites were allowed to reopen but their pools, common indoor areas and facilities such as restaurants and bars had to remain closed.
On 8 May 2021, outdoor cafés were allowed to reopen. From 9 June 2021 horeca inside was also allowed.
Swimming pools were allowed to reopen on 8 May 2021. In practice, this was often not (yet) the case in holiday parks due to the 1.5 metre rule. Camps and school trips with overnight stays were not allowed up to and including June 2021.
Indoor playgrounds, subtropical swimming pools and recreational parts of swimming pools had to close from 26 December 2021 to 27 January 2022. This had an impact on holiday parks.
Sports camps were only allowed to take place without overnight stays from 26 December 2021.
Exceptionally, figures for youth hostels and for B&Bs are only available on a national level for the months of January, February and May and on a regional level for March, April and June 2021.
[1] When interpreting the evolution between the same months of consecutive years, it is important to take into account the differences in the number of holidays, school holidays or weekends between these two months.