Belgium’s Travel & Tourism industry is on a “positive growth trajectory,” according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Forecast to contribute €38.9BN to the national economy this year, the sector is “fast becoming one of the country’s most powerful economic engines,” the council says, pointing to its 6.3% contribution to national GDP and the more than 385,500 jobs it represents in 2025.
Leisure travel expenditure far outstrips the business segment, representing 88.7% of spending, versus the corporate sector’s 11.3%. Year-on-year international visitor spending growth is at 15.1% to now be worth €12 billion but in reality, those figures have only just recovered to just above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Though growing at a slower rate (3.2%) to reach €25.8 billion, domestic spending for 2025 actually tells a healthier story, up 13.4% since 2019.
Overall, travel and tourism’s contribution to GDP in Belgium is forecast to grow by 8.2% in 2025, outpacing the worldwide market’s GDP for the year by 1.5%. However, the outlook for compound annual growth for 2035 is 1.3% below the global rate.
Source and outbound markets
The Netherlands is Belgium’s number one international source market, sending 26% of its foreign visitors. France (17%) and Germany (12%) make up the second and third biggest external markets respectively, while the United Kingdom (9%) ranks fourth, and visitors from the United States (5%) make up the fifth largest group. The “rest of the world” together sends 32% of Belgium’s visitors.
In outbound tourism, it’s a similar picture, with France (37%), the Netherlands (10%) and Germany all featuring in the top five most popular destinations from Belgium, taking the first, third, and fourth places respectively. Spain (12%) is the second most likely place for journeys starting from Belgium and Italy (6%), ties with Germany in fourth.
Social contribution
Still powered 83.5% by fossil fuels in 2023, the travel and tourism sector in Belgium had only managed to reduce its Greenhouse Gas emissions per dollar of GDP by 0.05% since 2019. However, in more positive sustainability news, it has managed to grow its GDP contribution by 14.3% compared to 2019’s figures, while only increasing its share of total economy Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 0.2%.
Using 2023’s figures again, the WTTC notes that just under half (49.2%) of “direct” jobs in the sector were occupied by women, with youth employment at 12.4%. Only 14.3% of work in travel and tourism is classed as “high-wage.”
“Belgium has a strong foundation to grow its Travel & Tourism sector, with opportunities in diversifying its offer, enhancing digital connectivity, and attracting higher-spending international visitors. With the right investment in infrastructure, skills and seamless travel, Belgium can strengthen its position as a leading European destination,” said James Wortley, Vice President of Communications at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), speaking to Travel Tomorrow.
“To reduce its greenhouse gas intensity, the sector must accelerate the shift to low-carbon energy and embrace more efficient and sustainable operations. A joined-up approach between government and industry will be essential to delivering meaningful change,” he concluded.
By the end of the next decade, the WTTC predicts, Belgian travel and tourism to GDP will effectively remain stable, reaching 6.8%, and creating 72,800 new jobs to employ at a total of 458,400 people.
