Tourist organisation expects more visitors to Belgium this week

Belgium can expect roughly 10% more visitors from other countries over the course of the autumn school vacation now under way, according to Toerisme Vlaanderen. The organisation expects a total 670,000 travellers this week, made up of 307,000 Belgians and the rest from abroad.

About one in three of those from abroad comes from France, with the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in second and third place. A large part of the increase comes from Germany, as this year’s autumn vacation coincides in Flanders and some German regions.

The figures are the result of a new modelling system developed for Toerisme Vlaanderen earlier this year. The figures only count overnight stays – so day-trippers to the coast, the capital or the art cities, for instance, are not included. Overnight guests are expected to spend €75 million this week and next weekend, the organisation said.