Some 100,000 visitors are expected over the course of the Holiday Fair which opened in Brussels on Thursday. According to an estimate by the Association of Tour Operators (ABTO), compared to 6.1 million last year, this year 6.2 million Belgians plan to go on holiday, 60% of which have not yet booked their holiday. The Brussels Expo event in Heysel is hosting 700 exhibitors in four different halls. France has a hall to itself and the three other halls will host Europe / the Mediterranean, Benelux and further-afield destinations.
This year's fair is running three themes: cycling, family and “outdoor” destinations with Tunisia being guest of honour at the fair this year.
ABTO has notes a rise in the number of holidays remaining to be booked or already booked this year, compared to last year. For the association, a holiday is defined as a stay of at least one night. It also appears that many Belgians are looking into taking two holidays instead of just the one. Destination-wise, France remains the first first choice, chose, by 23.8% of Belgians who intend to go on holiday, easily trumping Belgium (10.9%) and Spain (10.6%).
In 2014 the Holiday Fair, with Peru as guest of honour, attracted 100,576.
(Source: Belga)
