Belgian residents each took an average of 1.58 trips in 2023, covering an average distance of 3,980 km, bringing travel behaviour back to the record level of 2019, according to a study by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Mobility.
In total, there were 17.3 million international trips and 43.6 billion kilometres travelled. Additionally, six million domestic trips were made, but these have a minor environmental impact due to shorter distances, notes the FPS Mobility.
Half of the international trips were made by car, followed by air travel at 37%, train at 7%, and bus at 4%. When looking at the total kilometres travelled, air transport accounts for the majority at 74%, with car journeys making up 21% and other modes of transport at just 5%.
The vast majority of trips, nine out of ten, are to European countries, with France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany being popular destinations. Non-European trips are a minority but contribute nearly half (49%) of the total kilometres due to longer travel distances.
Overall, travel accounts for nearly one-third of all kilometres covered by Belgians. Throughout the year, the car remains the dominant mode of transportation, accounting for 60% of total distance, followed by air travel at 22% and public transport at 12%.
These figures are based on a sample of 9,000 households surveyed by Statbel since 1997, with the results analysed by the FPS Mobility.
