Winter Wonders attracts record 3.4 million visitors

Brussels' 19th edition of Winter Wonders attracted a record number of visitors, breaking the three million mark for the first time.

The annual attraction, including Christmas market and ice rink, recorded an attendance figure of 3.4 million people, organisers have announced.

The figure is a 14% improvement on last year. It is estimated that about two thirds of visitors were Belgian - 1.36 million Brussels residents and 900,000 from elsewhere in the country. There were also 1.12 million international visitors.

The hotel sector recorded an average occupancy rate of 72% in December, peaking at 96% in the Grand-Place area on New Year's Eve.

The next edition of Winter Wonders will run from 27 November to 3 January.