Belgian residents clocked up 5.3 million trips with at least one overnight stay between January and March 2026, according to preliminary data released by national statistics agency Statbel on 14 September. The figure is almost 1 % higher than in the same period of 2025, underscoring a resilient appetite for travel despite inflation and higher airfares. Domestic tourism accounted for 28.9 % of journeys, with the North Sea coast and the Ardennes topping staycation choices. Abroad, France remained the runaway favourite, attracting one million Belgian trips, followed by the Netherlands (522 000) and Germany (341 000). While the first quarter is traditionally a quiet season, day-trip numbers also impressed: 2.3 million cross-border excursions without overnight stay were recorded, highlighting the importance of frictionless Schengen movement for Belgium’s leisure and retail sectors. For corporate mobility planners, the data signal a return to near-pre-pandemic volumes on cross-border highways and rail lines. Companies should revisit travel-policy caps on mileage and carbon budgets, especially ahead of the busier autumn conference season.
Source: The Brussels Times / Statbel
