Belgians have already booked nearly 50% more winter sports holidays than during the same period last year, according to tour operators Sunweb and TUI.
"People are planning their skiing holidays more carefully than before," says Martine Langerak, spokesperson for Sunweb. The tour operator has recorded nearly 49% more bookings for winter holidays this summer compared to the same period last year. More and more people are booking their holidays early to be sure of their destination and accommodation.
TUI is reporting similar figures, and the summer period also seems particularly conducive to booking holidays in ski resorts for next winter. "However, we must remain cautious with these figures," says Piet Demeyere, spokesperson for the tour operator. "September is usually our best month for winter bookings. This success is undoubtedly due to a shift in the booking month."
This peak in bookings is not only linked to early booking promotions, but also to the upcoming carnival holidays, also known as relaxation holidays. In Flanders, they will take place from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February, while in French-speaking Belgium, they will run from 14 February to Sunday 1 March.
Next year, the week beginning 14 February will coincide with the holiday periods of neighbouring countries, which was not the case this year. "People realise that the number of available rooms is likely to decrease if more people go on holiday to the mountains at the same time," says Piet Demeyere.
The increased demand also makes the spring period more expensive, encouraging people to book earlier. "We are seeing that January is becoming increasingly popular," Martine Langerak of Sunweb points out. The Christmas holidays and January, when the ski season has yet to start, are gaining in popularity, mainly due to the higher costs during the carnival holidays.
According to TUI, Finland is also increasingly appearing on the list of favourite destinations for Belgian skiers. However, France and Austria remain the most popular destinations, while Italy is also experiencing a boom. Six ski resorts there will host the Winter Olympics, and the other Italian resorts will therefore have to accommodate the remaining travellers.
