War tourists double in West Flanders

The number of tourists visiting the Westhoek area of West Flanders doubled in August and September compared to the same period last year, according to tourism organisation Westtoer. The Westhoek centres on the city of Ypres, and is the main area for tourism related to First World War centennial commemoration in Belgium.

During August, 250,000 people visited at least one of 10 major sites singled out by Westtoer, including the In Flanders Fields museum and Essex Farm cemetery. That’s an increase of 114% on the normal total for August. September saw even better results, with figures up 123%.

For the year to date, the total now stands at 578,000, ahead of the original prognosis for the whole year, and 84% up on the same period last year. Tourists visit an average of three sites, Westtoer found. The figures have led the tourism agency to revise its expectations for the year, from half a million to 750,000

Hotels saw the benefit of so many visitors, with monthly bookings going up by 5% to 12% across the region. In August and September, hotels in the area were at 90% capacity. The neighbouring areas of Nora, Pas de Calais and Somme over the French border also saw a tourist boom, Westtoer said.