The coastal tourist sector experienced a quieter Ascension Day weekend compared to last year, according to tourism agency Westtoer.
Westtoer recorded 600,000 overnight stays along the coast over the past four days, marking a 14% drop from the previous year. Hotel bookings also decreased by 12%.
Last year’s extended weekend coincided with the end of the French-speaking Belgian school holidays, resulting in longer stays by southern Belgians at the seaside.
Weather conditions also impacted the tourism sector. Although fair weather was forecasted, it turned out to be less favourable, leading to fewer last-minute bookings and a decline in visits from secondary residents.
Approximately 450,000 day-trippers visited the Belgian coast, with Friday and Saturday being particularly busy. However, this represented a 19% decrease in visitors compared to last year.
