The number of overnight stays on the Belgian coast came in at around 1.2 million during the first two weeks of May, up 50% from the same period last year.
For the first time, French-speaking Belgians had a two-week holiday at the beginning of May since the implementation of the new holiday scheme in Belgium. The Dutch-speaking Belgians had their spring holiday over the Easter period.
“The coast developed more and more in recent years into a destination for the four seasons,” said the president of the tourism company Westtoer Sabien Lahaye-Battheu.
Positive figures across the board
During the May holidays, about 750,000-day tourists were recorded, in line with May last year. During the extended weekend of 1 May, about 220,000 day tourists flocked to the sea in three days. For the hotel sector, the May holiday was very positive. About 30% more hotel rooms were booked compared to the first two weeks of the month last year.
The figures from this holiday prior for French-speaking Belgium reinforced a trend that has been noticed at the coast for some time. Two-thirds of the tourist turnover in recent years was achieved outside the summer season.
“For the sector, the holiday staggering requires the necessary adjustment to organise itself properly,” Westtoer said, as beforehand some operators were worried they would not find enough staff for the extended period of school holidays. “Westtoer and the tourism operators are confident that the spread can certainly have a positive effect in the long term.”
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The coast is a popular destination for French-speaking Belgians., and according to the latest figures, they make up 16% of all tourists on the coast.
“The balance of the two weeks of Easter holidays with the two weeks of May holidays is positive,” Westtoer concluded. “Despite the lack of stable and beautiful spring weather, the coast recorded 2.6 million tourist overnight stays.
Westtoer stated that the sector is now looking forward to the coming extended weekend, which starts with Ascension on Thursday, 9 May.
