The number of overnight stays by tourists at the Belgian coast fell by around 20% during this year’s autumn holiday compared to the same period last year, according to provincial tourism agency Westtoer.
Westtoer estimates that the total number of overnight stays at the coast during the two-week autumn holiday was between 1.0 and 1.1 million. In the first week, only French-speaking Belgians had holidays, while the second week coincided with the Flemish autumn holiday.
In 2022, 1 November fell on a Friday, creating a long weekend that led to approximately 160,000 additional overnight stays. This year, with no extended weekend, the number of coastal overnight stays dropped significantly. Weekends saw the highest number of stays this autumn holiday, with about 110,000 each.
The total number of day visitors to the coast during the autumn holiday was estimated at 850,000, a drop of around 15% compared to last year. The busiest days were Saturday 18, Sunday 19, and Thursday 30 October, each drawing approximately 100,000 day tourists.
Despite the decline in overnight and day visits, the coast continued to attract tourists, particularly to events and cultural activities. “Our coastal municipalities succeed in creating a varied and inspiring offer every season,” said Jurgen Vanlerberghe, Provincial Tourism Deputy and Chair of Westtoer.
