324,000 Belgians visited the cities of art in the 4th quarter 2022
Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, publishes today the figures from its survey on holidays and travels for the 4th quarter 2022. During this period, the cities of art were visited as never before (324,000 trips). Nevertheless, Belgians still have a preference for travels abroad with 2,766,000 trips.
Never before have Belgians travelled so much to our cities of art
A record of 324,000 Belgians booked a trip of one or more nights in one of our cities of art (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven, Mechelen, Liège, Namur, Charleroi and Mons). This is the most striking figure for the 4th quarter of 2022.
In 2019, 165,000 Belgians booked this type of trip. Compared to 2022, this is an increase of +96.3%. Compared to the 82,000 trips in 2016, we see an increase of +296.0%. This is double the average number in the same quarter for the years 2016-2019.
Belgians remain attracted by travels abroad
In the 4th quarter 2022, 4,161,000 Belgians have travelled. This is a decrease of -10.4% compared to 2019 (4,644,000 trips), but an increase of +27.6% compared to 2016 (3,262,000 trips).
2,766,000 trips were made abroad. The figure is 1,396,000 for domestic trips. 2,282,000 Belgians stayed in the European Union and 300,000 Belgians travelled outside Europe.
Top 3 Belgian destinations:
- Ardennes (481,000 trips)
- Cities of art (324,000 trips)
- Coast (303,000 trips)
Top 3 European destinations:
- France (790,000 trips)
- the Netherlands (395,000 trips)
- Spain (367,000 trips)
Belgians travel during their holidays and for a short time
3,903,000 trips were made during holidays in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is a decrease of -7.6% compared to the 4,222,000 trips in 2019, but an increase of +34.9% compared to the 2,894,000 trips in 2016.
259,000 trips were made for work in the fourth quarter of 2022.
2,392,000 trips were for 1 to 3 nights. The figure is 1,770,000 for trips of 4 nights and more.
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.