The weather gods were favorable to the coastal cities, but also nature, hospitality and shopping streets attracted a lot of (day) tourists to the coast: “Together with the already successful crocus holiday, it is a nice harbinger for what can expect in 2025,” says Ellen Bruynoghe, coastal manager at Westtoer.
That crocus holiday was therefore successful, with 30% more nights and half more day tourists compared to last year. That the holiday in Wallonia overlapped our vacation this year is something in between.
Perfect Easter weekend
And also during the Easter holidays we see a positive balance, by, among other things, an extra day in the Easter weekend. Although the French -speaking Belgians do not yet have a holiday, a fifth of the bookings from the language border came. 15% of tourists then come back from abroad and 65% are Flemish people.
The occupation rose from 45% last year to 60% this year. During the Easter weekend, that occupation itself was 80%. By 1.3 day tourists we see an increase of 20% compared to last year. Around 125 thousand tourists dropped to the coast on the peak. And the sun? It seemed on average 3 hours a day than the Easter holiday last year.
Nice prospects
The crocus holiday and certainly the Easter holidays were a success and that promises a lot of good for the coming months. The spring vacation will start in Wallonia soon and a few extended weekends will follow in May. Afterwards the summer vacation is coming.