6% fewer tourist overnight stays in March than in 2019
The number of overnight stays spent in Belgian tourist accommodations amounted to 2,634,091 in March 2022. At national level, most overnight stays were in hotels (49%), holiday centres and villages (15%), and holiday homes and apartments (14%).
The number of overnight stays in March 2022[1] increased by 215% compared to March 2021 (836,979) and by 187% compared to March 2020 (918,146), but decreased by 6% compared to March 2019 (2,801,556).
In the Walloon Region, there were 544,451 overnight stays, which corresponds to increases of 139%, 193% and 7% respectively compared to March 2021, March 2020 and March 2019.
There were 1,679,631 overnight stays in the Flemish Region, i.e. respective increases of 206% and 200% compared to March 2021 and 2020, but a slight decrease of 1% compared to March 2019.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, there were 410,009 overnight stays, i.e. respective increases of 570% and 138% compared to March 2021 and 2020. The decrease compared to March 2019 was the sharpest in the Brussels-Capital Region, a decrease of 30%.
Note
Holiday parks and camping sites had to close from 3 November 2020 to 7 February 2021. Hotels and B&B could remain open, but bars and restaurants had to close. Meals had to be taken in the room.
As of 8 February, holiday parks 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, and from 9 June 2021 horeca inside was also allowed.
Swimming pools were also allowed to reopen on 8 May 2021. In practice, this was not (yet) the case in holiday parks due to the 1.5 metre rule.
Camps and school trips with overnight stays have not been 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.
From 26 December 2021, sports camps were only allowed without overnight stays.
Exceptionally, figures for youth hostels and for bed and breakfasts are only available at national level for the months of January, February and May and at regional level for March, April and June 2021.
[1] When interpreting the evolution between the same months of two consecutive years, it is important to take into account the differences in the number of holidays, school holidays or weekends between these two months.
Overnight stays in 2021 by region and most common countries of origin (a)
| REGION | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 29,220,847 | 19,859,409 | 6,990,502 | 2,370,936 |
| Belgium | 21,369,885 | 15,261,817 | 5,345,398 | 762,670 |
| Non-residents | 7,650,354 | 4,475,417 | 1,607,643 | 1,567,294 |
| The Netherlands | 2,799,262 | 1,800,340 | 862,390 | 136,532 |
| France | 1,387,436 | 609,271 | 302,083 | 476,082 |
| Germany | 1,105,119 | 812,904 | 142,420 | 149,795 |
| United Kingdom | 195,641 | 109,183 | 39,925 | 46,533 |
| Spain | 246,695 | 99,904 | 22,997 | 123,794 |
| Italy | 219,235 | 97,216 | 37,479 | 84,540 |
| Other | 1,696,966 | 946,599 | 200,349 | 550,018 |
| "(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 2021 per region and type of accommodation (a)
| Region | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (nace 55) | 10,971,971 | 6,848,505 | 2,811,377 | 1,312,089 |
| Hotels (nace 55.1) | 6,308,425 | 3,554,360 | 1,501,671 | 1,252,394 |
| Youth hostels (NACE 55.201) | 747,470 | 556,133 | 149,428 | 41,909 |
| Holiday centres and villages (NACE 55.202) | 934,923 | 624,599 | 310,324 | 0 |
| Holiday homes and appartments (NACE 55.203) | 1,222,900 | 780,581 | 437,334 | 4,985 |
| Guest rooms (NACE 55.204) | 509,566 | 401,024 | 95,741 | 12,801 |
| Holiday and other short-stay accommodation (NACE 55.209) | 436,438 | 436,438 | 0 | 0 |
| Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (NACE 55.3) | 812,249 | 495,370 | 316,879 | 0 |
| "(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 2021 by region and type of accommodation (a)
| Region | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (nace 55) | 29,220,847 | 19,859,409 | 6,990,502 | 2,370,936 |
| Hotels (nace 55.1) | 10,900,348 | 6,140,856 | 2,508,470 | 2,251,022 |
| Youth hostels (NACE 55.201) | 2,722,826 | 2,132,824 | 511,279 | 78,723 |
| Holiday centres and villages (NACE 55.202) | 3,725,580 | 2,562,776 | 1,162,804 | 0 |
| Holiday homes and appartments (NACE 55.203) | 6,648,175 | 5,141,506 | 1,493,451 | 13,218 |
| Guest rooms (NACE 55.204) | 941,437 | 744,282 | 169,182 | 27,973 |
| Holiday and other short-stay accommodation (NACE 55.209) | 1,236,881 | 1,236,881 | 0 | 0 |
| Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (NACE 55.3) | 3,045,600 | 1,900,284 | 1,145,316 | 0 |
| "(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).