First 20,000 Wallonia tourist passes disappear in 30 minutes

The first batch of 20,000 free tourist passes made available on Monday morning by the tourist promotion office in Wallonia we're taken in less than half an hour, confirmed Pierre Coenegrachts, the deputy general manager of Wallonia Belgium Tourism.

Wallonia is issuing 60,000 of the tourist passes between now and December in an attempt to boost the industry after the coronavirus summer. The free passes, each worth €80, can be spent in a range of activities and attractions in the region, and are available to Belgian residents and non-residents alike.

“We have made 20,000 people happy,” Coenegrachts said. “Of course, there will also be disappointed people.” But those who did not succeed in getting their passes in the first round will be able to try their luck again on 1 November, when 20,000 new passes will be offered. The last 20,000 will be made available sometime in December.