Belgians made nearly a quarter fewer trips in the last quarter of 2021
In the last quarter of 2021, Belgians made 3.5 million trips, 23% less than in 2019, pre-covid.
The Covid-19-crisis still had a clear impact on the travel behaviour of our fellow Belgians at the end of last year. The number of trips abroad amounted to 2.2 million, 33% less than in the same period of 2019.
The number of domestic trips on the other hand, 1.3 million, was almost at the same level (-1%) as 2 years ago.
For business trips, it is still unclear whether they will be permanently replaced by online meetings. We recorded 160,000 of these trips, a decrease of 62%.
Number of travels by destination, duration and motif, 2020 (in milliers)
| Destination | Trips of 1 to 3 nights | Trips of 4 nights or more | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holidays | Professional trip | Total | Holidays | Professional trip | Total | |
| Total | 4,350 | 350 | 4,700 | 6,530 | 160 | 6,690 |
| European Union | 4,250 | 270 | 4,520 | 5,820 | 110 | 5,930 |
| Belgium | 2,650 | 60 | 2,700 | 1,570 | 10 | 1,580 |
| France | 640 | 80 | 720 | 1,960 | 30 | 2,000 |
| the Netherlands | 500 | 20 | 520 | 280 | . | 280 |
| Germany | 190 | 40 | 220 | 230 | 10 | 240 |
| Spain | 50 | 10 | 50 | 490 | 10 | 500 |
| Italia | 50 | 10 | 60 | 430 | 10 | 450 |
| Other EU | 190 | 70 | 250 | 860 | 20 | 890 |
| Other European countries | 80 | 30 | 110 | 210 | 20 | 230 |
| Africa | 10 | 50 | 50 | 220 | 10 | 230 |
| North-America | . | . | 10 | 60 | 10 | 80 |
| South-America | . | . | . | 10 | . | 10 |
| Asia | 10 | . | 20 | 180 | 10 | 200 |
| Oceania | . | . | . | 20 | . | 20 |
| 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.