Flanders, the Flemish Dutch-speaking region in the north of Belgium, is becoming an even more popular destination, according to new figures released by Visit Flanders that show the area’s coasts, museums, and other attractions are performing well.
Nearly 15 million tourists were recorded by the tourism agency in 2024, a record high and up 3% overall since 2023. The increase, though only half of 2023’s growth of 6%, “was largely driven by international visitors” a press release said, noting that their numbers went up by nearly 5% year-on-year, a huge positive compared to the drop of 2% experienced in 2023.
Differences between international and domestic visitors
The Netherlands, France, and Germany remained the top source countries, while the number of American visitors saw a healthy 11% boost. Chinese tourism is also making a post-Covid comeback, authorities note: their arrivals soared by over 50% across the year, though they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Homegrown domestic tourists still dominate the coastal part of the country, where there was a 2% rise in visitor numbers. International arrivals are more likely to spend time in the nation’s historic cities, such as Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent, which saw two-thirds of their 2024 visitors come from abroad. Even though Brussels is surrounded geographically by Flanders, visitors to the Belgian capital do not count among Flanders’ statistics, as the city is its own region.
Overnight stays and activities
Overnight stays also went up, reaching 35.6 million, with the average length of trip lasting 2.4 nights. During their time in the Flanders region, 24 million visitors attended museums and attractions. Outdoor and active pursuits such as theme parks, zoos and nature reserves made up a colossal 41% of visits, while museums welcomed 6.5 million culture vultures.
Commenting on the data, Flemish Tourism minister Melissa Depraetere emphasised the travel and tourism sector’s importance to the regional economy. The industry employs over 300,000 people in the region, according to figures from Flanders Statistical Authority dating to their last biennial report. It brought in 9.5 billion euros in 2022, accounting for 2.6% of total gross value added.
Everyone deserves a holiday
Praising Flanders’ diverse mix of cultural heritage, gastronomy, and hospitality, Depraetere also reaffirmed her commitment to expanding the Everyone Deserves a Holiday (Iedereen Verdient Vakantie) initiative, which seeks to ensure that tourism remains accessible to all income groups. Currently, as many as one million Flanders residents cannot afford to take a holiday. Depraetere pledged to improve that situation with further investment in budget-friendly travel initiatives.
