The tourism sector on the Belgian coast can look back on the extended Ascension weekend with satisfaction; according to provincial company Westtoer, some 700,000 tourist overnight stays and 550,000 day-tourists were recorded.
Over the past two weeks, the sun by the sea shone two hours longer on average every day than in the Brussels municipality of Uccle (where the weather station is placed). This sunny spring weather helped create a pleasant holiday atmosphere in all coastal municipalities, according to Westtoer.
In total, over 700,000 tourist overnight stays were recorded during the Ascension weekend, an increase of 22% compared to 2023. Hotels achieved an average occupancy rate of 90%, with peaks of up to 95%.
Additionally, 550,000 day tourists also travelled to the sea – a quarter more than in 2023. Thursday and Saturday were the top days with around 175,000 day tourists each time.
Differing school holidays
Since last school year, holiday periods in French-speaking schools no longer always fall at the same time as in Flanders. Therefore, their spring holidays only started at the end of April. A total of 1.6 million tourist overnight stays were recorded in those two weeks.
This increase of no less than 45% is mainly due to the Ascension weekend, which in 2023 only fell after the spring holidays. Over the past two weeks, some 770,000 Flemish, 580,000 French-speaking Belgians and 250,000 international tourists stayed overnight on the coast. Over 1.2 million day tourists are also estimated to have flocked to the sea during the spring holidays.
These figures prove that the coast is persevering as a four-season destination, according to the president of Westtoer. "Two-thirds of tourist turnover is realised outside the summer season. For domestic and foreign holidaymakers, the coast remains a favourite destination even in spring. Holidaymakers appreciate more than ever the classic and contemporary assets of the coast."
