The Flemish city of Bruges welcomed a record-breaking eight million visitors in 2024, according to a report presented by the city on Friday.
Known as the 'Venice of the North', Bruges is assessing both the benefits and drawbacks of this influx and aims to balance tourism with residents' well-being over the coming years.
Bruges attracted an average of 27,000 people per day in 2024. "Tourism brings both advantages and challenges, and we are fully aware of that," said Mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V).
He highlighted that tourism is crucial for Bruges' economy and employment in the city and its surroundings. The total revenue from daily and long-term tourism is estimated at €542 million for 2024. Therefore, ensuring a balance between tourism and residents' well-being is essential.
However, some residents and temporary visitors experienced slightly reduced quality of life due to crowding at certain times and places, noted Minou Esquenet, the alderwoman in charge of tourism.
She stressed the need to better consider the social costs of tourism. "Bruges is a welcoming city where people from all over the world feel at home, and we want it to stay that way. That is why I am working on a concrete plan to more actively manage this hospitality. This way, we can maintain residents' support for tourism and the city's attractiveness to visitors," Esquenet added.
