The coastal tourism sector can look back on a successful long weekend. According to the provincial company Westtoer, there were a total of 780,000 tourist overnight stays. On 15 August, approximately 190,000 day tourists also visited the coast.
The average hotel occupancy rate fluctuated between 85% and 90% this weekend. Spread over the three nights, a total of 780,000 tourist overnight stays were recorded. This figure also includes people who stayed at a campsite, holiday park or holiday home, for example. Many second home owners also found their way to the coast during the summer weekend. In terms of overnight stays, the long weekend of Assumption Day scored 12% better than the long weekend of the national holiday.
In addition, approximately 450,000 day tourists also visited the coast. With 190,000 day tourists, Friday 15 August was even the peak day of the entire summer. The number of day trippers last weekend was no less than 50% higher than during the long weekend of 21 July. Remarkably, the sun shone exceptionally well, yet on average for a few minutes less than in Uccle. ‘The pleasant temperature was a major attraction for people seeking to cool off at the seaside,’ according to Westtoer. A wide range of events, such as the Paulusfeesten in Ostend, We Can Dance in Zeebrugge and Bubbels aan Zee in Middelkerke, also attracted extra visitors to the various seaside resorts.
"After the somewhat cooler weather at the end of July, the warm summer weather from the second week of August onwards encouraged people to seek refreshment at the seaside," said Jurgen Vanlerberghe, Deputy for Tourism and Chairman of Westtoer. "The long weekend of 15 August traditionally brings extra crowds to the seaside." Westtoer also hopes that the favourable weather forecasts will continue to create a pleasant holiday atmosphere in the coming days.
