Despite the high costs, winter sports holidays remain immensely popular among people in Belgium. To ensure they can afford time away on their skis, they are willing to cut costs in other areas.
Winter sports holidays are popular in Belgium: more than a third (34%) of people surveyed have already travelled abroad to hit the mountains. Regardless of the price tag, almost one in 10 Belgians surveyed would still choose to travel abroad to ski or snowboard, research by travel company Sunweb showed.
"Despite the challenges posed by high prices, we note that Belgian winter sports enthusiasts are getting creative with savings methods," Martine Langerak, spokesperson at Sunweb Group, said.
The research showed that Belgians don't mind shelling out several hundred euros for a holiday in the snow. Almost half of respondents (44%) are willing to change their habits to go on their beloved winter holidays by saving money in other ways.
Less shopping (18%), ordering less takeaway or eating out (17%), as well as going out less (16%) appear to be the three most frequently mentioned activities Belgians give up to save money for this purpose.
"Interestingly, one in ten is even willing to make extra efforts, such as finding an extra side income," said Langerak. Others consider lowering the heating (10%) while others even forego other holidays just to make it to the mountains for some snow fun.
