Belgians travelled massively in the first three months of 2022
After having to suspend their travel plans for almost two years, there is a significant upturn in early 2022. Belgians made more than 4 million trips in the first quarter of 2022. They made 27% more trips in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the average for the first quarters of 2016-2019. These include:
- 46% more trips within Belgium, of which +79% to the coast;
- 21% more trips abroad, of which +51% to France but -6% outside the EU;
- 33% more holiday trips.
However, there were still 26% fewer business trips compared to the same period in 2016-2019. Some business trips may be permanently replaced by online meetings.
The graph below clearly shows how Belgians adjusted their travel behaviour during the COVID-19 crisis and steadily increased their travel from the beginning of 2021 onwards.
Number of travels by destination, duration and motif, 2021 (in milliers)
| Destination | Trips of 1 to 3 nights | Trips of 4 nights or more | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holidays | Professional trip | Total | Holidays | Professional trip | Total | |
| Total | 6,500 | 350 | 6,850 | 8,400 | 260 | 8,660 |
| European Union | 6,420 | 340 | 6,760 | 7,520 | 190 | 7,710 |
| Belgium | 4,460 | 130 | 4,600 | 2,280 | 30 | 2,310 |
| France | 880 | 80 | 950 | 2,240 | 70 | 2,310 |
| the Netherlands | 550 | 30 | 580 | 240 | 20 | 260 |
| Germany | 260 | 10 | 270 | 230 | 10 | 240 |
| Spain | 80 | 10 | 80 | 870 | 10 | 880 |
| Italia | 80 | 10 | 90 | 540 | . | 550 |
| Other EU | 120 | 60 | 190 | 1,100 | 40 | 1,150 |
| Other European countries | 50 | 10 | 50 | 270 | 10 | 280 |
| Africa | 10 | . | 10 | 210 | 10 | 220 |
| North-America | . | . | . | 40 | 10 | 40 |
| South-America | . | . | . | 60 | 10 | 70 |
| Asia + Oceania | 20 | . | 20 | 300 | 30 | 330 |
| Statbel (Direction générale Statistique - Statistics Belgium) | ||||||
Purpose and brief description
Travelling, whether domestic or international, for business or holiday, is becoming increasingly important in our way of life. This brochure presents the main results of a survey on the travel behaviour of Belgians. Travel habits have been followed since 1997 via a continuous quarterly survey amongst households. You will find here data regarding the duration and the motives of the trip, the destination, the accommodation type, the means of transport used and how the trip has been organised. The traveller's origin is also surveyed.
Population
Inhabitants in Belgium
Data collection method and sample size
Survey technique based on the use of paper questionnaires
Frequency
Annually.
Timing of publication
Results available 6 months after the reference period
Definitions
Number of trips: Trips of the inhabitants with at least one overnight stay. Day trips are also taken into account since 2014.
Duration of the trip: The duration of the trip is measured as the number of nights.
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).
Traveller: person who travels during the reporting period.
Low-skilled people are people who have at best a lower secondary education diploma. Medium-skilled people have obtained an upper secondary education diploma, but no higher education diploma. High-skilled people have a higher education diploma.