Belgium recorded growth in overnight stays in August 2022 than in August 2019 (pre-COVID)

Belgium recorded growth in overnight stays in August 2022 than in August 2019 (pre-COVID)

The number of overnight stays in Belgian tourist accommodations was 5,936,434 in August 2022. On a national level, most overnight stays were in hotels (35%) and holiday homes and apartments (20%).

The number of overnight stays in August 2022 was 14% higher than in August 2021 (5,200,715), 45% higher than in August 2020 (4,088,485), and 5% higher than in August 2019 (5,671,567).

In the Walloon Region, there were 1,403,426 overnight stays, which is an increase of 10%, 14%, and 9% respectively compared to August 2021, August 2020, and August 2019.

In the Flemish Region, there were 3,911,314 overnight stays, which is an increase of 7%, 43%, and 5% respectively compared to August 2021, August 2020, and August 2019.

In the Brussels-Capital Region, the number of overnight stays was 621,694. This is an increase of 137% and 431% respectively compared to August 2021 and 2020. The Brussels-Capital Region recorded a decrease of 4% compared to August 2019.

Remarks

Holiday parks and camping sites had to close from 3 November 2020 to 7 February 2021. Hotels and B&Bs could stay open, but restaurants and bars had to close. Meals had to be taken in the room.

As of 8 February, holiday villages and camping sites were allowed to reopen but their pools, common indoor areas, and facilities such as restaurants and bars had to remain closed.

On 8 May 2021, outdoor cafés were allowed to reopen. From 9 June 2021 Horeca inside was also allowed.

Swimming pools were allowed to reopen on 8 May 2021. In practice, this was often not (yet) the case in holiday parks due to the 1.5-meter rule. Camps and school trips with overnight stays were not allowed up to and including June 2021.

Indoor playgrounds, subtropical swimming pools, and recreational parts of swimming pools had to close from 26 December 2021 to 27 January 2022. This had an impact on holiday parks.

Sports camps were only allowed to take place without overnight stays from 26 December 2021.

Exceptionally, figures for youth hostels and for B&Bs are only available on a national level for the months of January, February, and May and on a regional level for March, April, and June 2021.