Travel agencies have recorded a steep rise in the number of Belgians booking summer holidays early this year, as vacationers grow increasingly confident in the stability of the economy and memories of pandemic-era restrictions continue to fade.
One recent survey by TUI Belgium, the largest travel company in the country, found that 30% more Belgians have already booked their summer holidays compared to this time last year. Sunweb, another travel agency, recorded an even sharper increase of 64%.
Experts interviewed by Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN), which was the first newspaper to report on both surveys, suggested that holidaymakers are likely motivated by a range of different factors – including the end of Covid-19-related travel restrictions and the softening of Europe's energy crisis.
"2020 and 2021 were particularly bad years due to the Covid-19 pandemic," said Piet Demeyere, a spokesperson for TUI Belgium. "You didn't know if you were allowed out of our country, which country you were allowed into, how many vaccines you needed. [So] if people went on a trip, they decided at the last minute."
He added: "In 2022, we again experienced serious disadvantages from the energy crisis. Everyone was terrified of a high electricity bill, which made people prefer to leave their travel [money] in their wallets."
'Customers are confident'
Demeyere further suggested some holidaymakers might be especially eager to avoid missing out on their planned trips, as many did last year – a view supported by other analysts.
"You already saw that early bookings were gaining popularity last year, especially among families with children," said Koen van den Bosch, the CEO of the Association Flemish Travel Professionals. "They want to be sure of their hotel with a swimming pool or of having connected rooms. Last year, early bookings were on the same level as in 2019, now we even exceed that."
Related News
- Our weekend as undercover Brussels tourists
- 'Costa Del Dull'? British media outraged by idea of holidaying in 'boring' Belgium
However, experts appeared to disagree on whether the pace of early bookings will continue in the coming months.
Tim van den Bergh, a Director Sun & Beach Holidays at Sunweb, remained optimistic: "Bookings are moving fast, indicating that customers are confident they'll have a carefree holiday, which they want to reserve as soon as possible."
Demeyere, on the other hand, was slightly more cautious. "It is difficult to predict what speed it will continue to run in the coming weeks and months, but it seems to be a good year for travel. Finally, the lean years are over."
