56% less overnight stays in April 2021 compared to April 2019
The number of overnight stays in tourist accommodations was 1,753,292 in April 2021. On a national level, most overnight stays were in holiday homes (32%) and hotels (30%).
Compared to April 2019[*], there were 56% fewer overnight stays: the number of overnight stays in hotels decreased by 72%, in holiday parks by 55% and in youth hostels by even 97%.
In the Walloon Region, there were 474,788 overnight stays, which corresponds to a decrease of 41% compared to April 2019. In the Flemish and Brussels-Capital Region, 1,212,587 and 65,917 overnight stays were recorded respectively, this means a decrease of 52% and 90% respectively compared to April 2019.
Remark
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.
Camps and school trips with overnight stays were still not allowed in April 2021. So there were hardly any overnight stays in the youth hostels in April either.
Exceptionally, figures for this category and for bed and breakfasts are only available at national level for the months of January and February and on a regional level for March and April.
[*] When interpreting the evolution between the same months of consecutive years, it is important to take into account the differences in number of holidays, school holidays or weekends between these two months.
Overnight stays in 2020 by region and most common countries of origin (a)
| REGION | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 20,177,486 | 13,276,415 | 5,118,198 | 1,782,873 |
| Belgium | 13,630,700 | 9,488,855 | 3,642,837 | 499,008 |
| Non-residents | 6,405,973 | 3,679,884 | 1,454,588 | 1,271,501 |
| The Netherlands | 2,100,587 | 1,228,464 | 794,921 | 77,202 |
| France | 1,071,936 | 532,679 | 250,591 | 288,666 |
| Germany | 999,814 | 751,855 | 125,698 | 122,261 |
| United Kingdom | 377,653 | 213,148 | 65,568 | 98,937 |
| Spain | 176,939 | 71,732 | 12,956 | 92,251 |
| Italy | 175,052 | 77,978 | 29,361 | 67,713 |
| Other | 1,503,992 | 804,028 | 175,493 | 524,471 |
| "(a) The figures include both real holidays and stays related to congresses, seminars, conferences and other professional purposes. Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium)" | ||||
Arrivals in 2020 per region and type of accommodation (a)
| Region | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (nace 55) | 7,376,417 | 4,431,080 | 1,953,048 | 992,289 |
| Hotels (nace 55.1) | 4,342,383 | 2,381,086 | 1,018,218 | 943,079 |
| Youth hostels (NACE 55.201) | 485,046 | 376,572 | 70,182 | 38,292 |
| Holiday centres and villages (NACE 55.202) | 590,388 | 400,705 | 189,683 | |
| Holiday homes and appartments (NACE 55.203) | 848,301 | 516,123 | 328,224 | 3,954 |
| Guest rooms (NACE 55.204) | 327,055 | 254,266 | 65,825 | 6,964 |
| Holiday and other short-stay accommodation (NACE 55.209) | 229,165 | 229,165 | ||
| Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (NACE 55.3) | 554,079 | 273,163 | 280,916 | |
| "(a) The figures include both real holidays and stays related to congresses, seminars, conferences and other professional purposes. Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium)" | ||||
Overnight stays in 2020 by region and type of accommodation (a)
| Region | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (nace 55) | 20,177,486 | 13,276,415 | 5,118,198 | 1,782,873 |
| Hotels (nace 55.1) | 7,722,771 | 4,277,596 | 1,758,100 | 1,687,075 |
| Youth hostels (NACE 55.201) | 2,002,795 | 1,676,983 | 255,905 | 69,907 |
| Holiday centres and villages (NACE 55.202) | 2,412,036 | 1,640,156 | 771,880 | |
| Holiday homes and appartments (NACE 55.203) | 4,533,348 | 3,364,797 | 1,157,987 | 10,564 |
| Guest rooms (NACE 55.204) | 619,301 | 484,213 | 119,761 | 15,327 |
| Holiday and other short-stay accommodation (NACE 55.209) | 663,338 | 663,338 | ||
| Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (NACE 55.3) | 2,223,897 | 1,169,332 | 1,054,565 | |
| "(a) The figures include both real holidays and stays related to congresses, seminars, conferences and other professional purposes. Source: Statbel (Directorate-General Statistics - Statistics Belgium)" | ||||
Purpose and brief description
The purpose of this survey is to measure the volume of domestic and inbound tourism, expressed in number of arrivals and overnight stays, by purpose of the trip and country of residence of the guest.
Population
Accommodation establishments
Frequency
Monthly.
Timing of publication
Results available 3 months after the reference period
Definitions
Country of residence of the tourist: the country of residence is the country where the traveller has lived for most of the past 12 months.
Type of accommodation: the collective tourist accommodation establishments are divided according to the NACE code.
Number of arrivals: an arrival is defined as a person who arrives at a collective accommodation establishment and stays there at least one night. Arrivals are registered by country of residence of the guest and by purpose of the trip.
Number of overnight stays: An overnight stay is each night a guest spends or is registered in a collective accommodation establishment. Overnight stays are registered by country of residence of the guest and by purpose of the trip.
Purpose of the trip: there is only one main purpose for a trip, in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place. The Directive distinguishes two main reasons to travel:(i) business and professional; (ii) holidays, recreation and leisure. Holidays due to 'Visits to friends and relatives' should be included in point (ii).