New record! 9.3 million trips were registered in the summer 2024
Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, publishes today the figures from its survey on holidays and travels for the third quarter 2024. During this period, 9,278,000 trips were made in Belgium or abroad, or a 6.6% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023. These figures also exceed those of the summer 2019, with a 3.8% increase in total trips, setting a new record for summer travel.
In the third quarter 2024, there were 2.0 million domestic trips and 7.3 million trips abroad. Compared to the same quarter in 2023, these are increases of 11.6% and 5.3%, respectively.
34.5% increase in travel outside Europe compared to the 3rd quarter 2023
The two destinations abroad with the largest increase compared to the 3rd quarter of 2023 are Spain (+9.0%) and France (+4.0%). France remains the most popular destination for Belgians, with 2.5 million trips in the summer 2024.
Trips outside Europe increased sharply, with 0.75 million trips in the third quarter 2024, an increase of 34.5% compared to 2023.
34.5% increase in trips to the Ardennes compared to the 3rd quarter 2023
Most domestic destinations register an increase in the third quarter 2024 compared to the same period the year before. Indeed, the number of trips to the Ardennes rose by 34.5%, trips to the Coast by 12.3% and trips to the cities of art by 1.1%.
Number of travels by destination, duration and motif, 2023 (in milliers)
| Destination | Trips of 1 to 3 nights | Trips of 4 nights or more | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holidays | Professional trip | Total | Holidays | Professional trip | Total | |
| Total | 8,612 | 962 | 9,574 | 13,144 | 462 | 13,606 |
| European Union | 8,328 | 856 | 9,184 | 10,782 | 296 | 11,079 |
| Belgium | 4,076 | 177 | 4,254 | 1,602 | 27 | 1,629 |
| France | 1,638 | 213 | 1,851 | 3,471 | 80 | 3,551 |
| the Netherlands | 1,367 | 110 | 1,477 | 622 | 2 | 624 |
| Germany | 588 | 106 | 694 | 369 | 17 | 385 |
| Spain | 165 | 67 | 232 | 1,707 | 24 | 1,732 |
| Italia | 136 | 41 | 177 | 1,110 | 36 | 1,146 |
| Other EU | 357 | 143 | 500 | 1,901 | 110 | 2,011 |
| Other European countries | 232 | 69 | 301 | 604 | 32 | 636 |
| Africa | 18 | 6 | 25 | 751 | 25 | 776 |
| North-America | 21 | 7 | 28 | 204 | 51 | 255 |
| South-America | 14 | 13 | 27 | 176 | 10 | 186 |
| Asia + Oceania | . | 10 | 10 | 627 | 47 | 673 |
| 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.