Tourism in Key figuresedition 2013
“TourisminKeyfigures”isthelittlebrotherofourannualpublication
“Tourisminfigures”.Inanutshellwewanttopresentyouthemajor
tourismtrendsandthetourismflowstoourregion.
In2012Flanderscounted29millionovernightstaysand11million
touristarrivals.Thisprovidesinformationonwherethesetourists
stayed,when theyvisitedour region,why theycame toFlanders
onholidayandwheretheycamefrom.Wewillalsopointout the
economic returnof the tourismsector inFlanders, seeingas this
sectorgenerates6,9billioneurosintourismconsumption.
VisitFlandersconductsnewresearchonaregularbasisandpublishes
updatedarrivalandovernightfiguresmonthly.
Consultwww.toerismevlaanderen.be/figurestogetregularupdateson
newtourismfiguresandresearch.
PeterDeWilde
CEOVisitFlanders
EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS 1980-2012
(in millions)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
TOURISMREMAINSAGROWINGSECTOR,WITHINTERMITTENTPERIODSOFSLOWERGROWTH:
IN2012WEExCEEDEDTHE
MILESTONEOF1bILLION
TOURISTARRIVALS
2009:EFFECTSOFTHECRISIS
2001ATTACKS
SEPTEMbER11
RESULTEDINADECREASE
SARSVIRUSINASIA
2010AND2011
NOTICEAbLERECOVERy
EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS 1950-2012
by continent (in millions)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
EuropE
ASIAANDTHEPACIFIC
AMERICA
MIDDLEEAST
AFRICA
Source: UNWTO Source: UNWTO
+274%
2012 - DIVISION OF OVERNIghT STAyS
IN ThE ART cITIES
ANTwERp BRUgES BRUSSELS ghENT LEUVEN MEchELEN
16% 16% 55% 8% 3% 2%
1,8 MLN 1,7 MLN 6,0 MLN 0,9 MLN 0,4 MLN 0,2 MLN
2012 - NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND OVERNIghT STAyS
IN FLANDERS
overnightstays % arrivals % average lengthofstay(nights) Flemishregion 23.174.362 80% 8.153.523 72% 2,8brusselsregion 5.966.708 20% 3.159.999 28% 1,9Flanders 29.141.070 100% 11.313.522 100% 2,6belgium 35.489.617 14.045.202 2,5
17%
52%
31%OVE
RNIg
hT
STA
yS 31%
37%
32%
cOAST
ART cITIES
FLEMISh cOUNTRySIDE
ARRIVA
LS
Source: Directorate-generalStatistics Source: Directorate-general Statistics
2012 - DIVISION OF OVERNIghT STAyS
IN ThE FLEMISh cOUNTRySIDE
voerenvoeren
haSpengouwhaSpengouw
maaSlandmaaSland
antwerpSekempen
antwerpSekempen
BrugSeommeland
BrugSeommeland
weSthoekweSthoek
leieStreekleieStreekvlaamSe
ardennenvlaamSe
ardennen
waaSlandwaaSlandmeetjeSlandmeetjeSland
ScheldelandScheldeland
groenegordelgroenegordel
hagelandhageland
6%
5%
4%
3%
3%
3%2% 2%
1%
1%
2% haSSelt en omgeving
1% randStedelijk geBied antwerpen-mechelen
2%
limBurgSekempen
limBurgSekempen
2012 - SEASONALITy OF OVERNIghT STAyS
IN FLANDERS
The distribution of overnight stays through-
out the year varies a lot depending on the
destination. Tourism at the coast and in
the Flemish countryside is very seasonal,
whereas the occupancy in the art cities is
moreevenlydistributedthroughouttheyear.
At the coast 36% of overnight stays takes
placeinthemonthsJulyandAugustandin
the Flemish countryside 19% of overnight
stays occur during the summer months.
There is clearly less commercial tourism in
thewinteratthecoast,whileFlemishcoun-
trysidestillreceivesareasonableamountof
overnightstays.
ARTCITIES
FLEMISHCOUNTRySIDE
COAST
Source: Directorate-general Statistics Source: Directorate-general Statistics
20%20%
14%14%
3,0mil
33%33%
1,8mil
1,3mil
2012 - OVERNIghT STAyS IN FLANDERS
By cOUNTRy OF ORIgIN
2012 - OVERNIghT STAyS IN FLANDERS By TypE OFAccOMMODATION AND By MOTIVE
hOTELS cAMp SITES hOLIDAy-pARKS AccOMMODATION FOR TARgET gROUpS
LEISURE AND hOLIDAy cONFERENcE, cONgRESS AND SEMINAR OThER BUSINESS pURpOSES
OVERNIghT STAyS By TypE OF AccOMMODATION
OVERNIghT STAyS By MOTIVE
62% 8% 12% 18%
72% 17% 11%
Source: Directorate-general Statistics Source: Directorate-general Statistics
NETHERLANDS
3.640.046
GERMANy
1.932.739
FRANCE
1.878.084
UNITEDKINGDOM
1.675.389
SPAIN
643.191
USA
643.094
bELGIUM
14.748.717
51% 12% 7% 6%
6% 2% 2%
2012 - gROSS OccUpANcy RATE IN hOTELS
ARTCITIES
FLEMISHCOUNTRySIDE
TOURIST AccOMMODATION SUppLy IN FLANDERS TOURIST AccOMMODATION SUppLy IN FLANDERS
(NUMBER OF ESTABLIShMENTS) (cApAcITy, IN BED SpAcES)
Trend Share 2011 2012 2011-2012 2012
Hotels 1.492 1.500 +0,5% 62%
Campsites 237 231 -2,5% 10%
Holiday-parks 15 14 -6,7% 1%
Accommodationfor
targetgroups 600 658 +9,7% 27%
Flanders 2.344 2.403 +2,5% 100%
Trend Share 2011 2012 2011-2012 2012
Hotels 102.345 106.349 +3,9% 43%
Campsites 47.748 46.820 -1,9% 19%
Holiday-parks 26.702 23.682 -11,3% 10%
Accommodationfor
targetgroups 63.509 67.753 +6,7% 28%
Flanders 240.303 244.604 +1,8% 100%
EVOLUTION OF TOURIST AccOMMODATION SUppLy
IN FLANDERS (NUMBER OF ESTABLIShMENTS)
EVOLUTION OF TOURIST AccOMMODATION SUppLy
IN FLANDERS (cApAcITy, IN BED SpAcES)
Trend Share 2011 2012 2011-2012 2012
Coast 433 429 -0,9% 18%
Flemishcountryside 1.420 1.463 +3,0% 61%
Artcities 491 511 +4,1% 21%
Flanders 2.344 2.403 +2,5% 100%
Trend Share 2011 2012 2011-2012 2012
Coast 59.988 58.266 -2,9% 24%
Flemishcountryside 114.114 116.897 +2,4% 48%
Artcities 66.200 69.441 +4,9% 28%
Flanders 240.303 244.604 +1,8% 100%
Source: Visit Flanders, Hotelbarometer Source: Directorate-general Statistics
RESPONSERATEINROOMSATTHECOAST: 2005 21% 2012 68%
RESPONSERATEINROOMSINTHEARTCITIES: 2005 54% 2012 51%
RESPONSERATEINROOMSINTHEFLEMISHCOUNTRySIDE: 2005 16% 2012 22%
COAST
2011 - TOTAL EMpLOyMENT IN ThE TOURISM SEcTOR
IN FLANDERS (IN NUMBER OF jOBS)
Employees Self-employed
Accommodation 19.344
Foodandbeverageservices 73.421
Passengertransport 49.797
Travelagencies,travelorganizers,
reservationdesksandrelatedactivities 8.490
Culturalservices 24.85812.729
Sportandrecreationalservices 28.823
Retailofcountry-specific,characteristictourismgoods 3.276
Non-tourismcharacteristiccompanies 1.893
Totaal 209.902 51.390
THEbROADTOURISMSECTOR(PASSENGERTRANSPORTINCLUDED)COUNTS7,4%OF
SELF-EMPLOyMENTAND6,1%OFSALARIEDEMPLOyMENT.
Source: RSV, RSVZ, RSZPPO
261.292
95.947
4.327
4.894
6.173
TOTAL: 111.341
2013 - hOLIDAy pARTIcIpATION
Source: Holiday Participation Center
IN2013MORETHAN110.000FLEMISH
PEOPLEGOTSUPPORTFROMTHEHOLIDAy
PARTICIPATIONCENTRETOMAKEADAyTRIP
ORGOONAHOLIDAy.
38.661
Individualholidays
Daytrips
Groupholidays
Organized holidays
Source: Tourism Satellite Account, Research Centre of the Government of Flanders
5% OF ThE gROSS VALUE ADDED
12,2 billionTOURISM INDUSTRy *
2,8% OF ThE gROSS VALUE ADDED
6,9 billionTOURISM cONSUMpTION**
coast artcities Flemishcountryside
Accommodation 27 43 40
Meals,foodanddrinks 24 52 25
Attractionsandrelaxation 2 9 2
Shopping 9 34 5
Localtravel 1 4 3
Otherspending 0 0 1
Total 62 142 76
2011 - EXpENDITURE OF ThE OVERNIghT LEISURE
TOURIST pER pERSON/NIghT (IN EURO)
Source: Visit Flanders, The Holidaymaker in Flanders and Westtoer
2010 - EcONOMIc RETURN OF TOURISM IN FLANDERS
* thisindicatordesignatesthevalueaddedgeneratedbythetourismindustry,regardlessofwhetherthissupplyisconsumedbytouristsornon-tourists.
**thisindicatordesignatesthevaluedaddedgeneratedbybothtourism-relatedandotherbranchesofactivity,butonlyforthesharewhichisactually
purchasedbytouristsinthesesectors.
A tourist in the art cities is on average 8 years younger than a
tourist at the coast.
Tourists in the Flemish countryside are often on holiday with friends and ac-
quaintances.
Only 50% of tourists get to the art cities by car; given the international appeal of the art cities, 23% of the tourists come by airplane.
More than 75% of tourists at the coast and in the Flemish
countryside are repeat visitors (they spent at least one vacation there during
the past three years).
Information about the desti-nation is mostly found online.
Belgians in the art cities usually book their holidays directly with the accommodation,
foreign tourists tend to book through booking sites.
70% of Spanish tourists arrive in the art cities by airplane; 65% arrives in
Brussels Airport.
On average the French spend the most in the art cities (174 euro per person per
night), of which 51 euro goes to shopping.
Source: Visit Flanders, The Holidaymaker in Flanders and Westtoer
2011 - OVERNIghT LEISURE TOURIST IN FLANDERS
Tourists in the Flemish countryside are the most
satisfied with their holiday.
British and Dutch tourists visit the coast mainly for its pleasant holiday
atmosphere.
Source: Visit Flanders, based on statistics of the port of Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Ostend
EVOLUTION OF NUMBER OF cRUISE pASSENgERS
IN ANTwERp, ZEEBRUggE, OSTEND
EVOLUTION OF NUMBER OF cRUISES
IN ANTwERp, ZEEBRUggE, OSTEND
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
AVIATION IN FLANDERScRUISES IN FLANDERS
0
5
10
15
20
25
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
EU
NON-EU
TOTAL
In millions
IN2012bRUSSELSAIRPORTTRANSPORTED19MILLIONPASSENGERS;THISIS1%MORETHANIN2011.11MILLIONOF
THESEPASSENGERSHADANEUROPEANDESTINATION,3MILLIONHADANON-EUROPEANDESTINATION,
AND5MILLIONHADADESTINATIONOVERSEAS.
Source: Brussels Airport
2012 - MEETINg- AND cONgRESS TOURISM IN FLANDERS
ONAGLObALLEVEL,bRUSSELSRANKSSECONDINTERMSOFTHENUMbEROFINTERNATIONALASSOCIATIONMEETINGS,
AFTERTHENUMbERONESINGAPORE.INEUROPEbRUSSELSISINFIRSTPLACEWITH556ORGANIzEDASSOCIATION
MEETINGSIN2012.
2
1
3
TOp 3 INTERNATIONAL MEETINg
cITIES IN ThE wORLD
BRUSSELS
SINgApORE
VIENNA
2
1
3
TOp 3 INTERNATIONAL MEETINg
cITIES IN EUROpE
BRUSSELS
VIENNA pARIS
BRUSSELS
ART cITIES*
FLEM
ISh
cO
UN
TRyS
IDE
cOAST
40%
21%
29%
10%
Source: Union of International Association (UIA)Source: Visit Flanders *excludingbrussels
SUppLy: VENUES TOp 3 MEETINg DESTINATIONS
aantal:
381
273
aantal:
93
aantal:
200
NUMbER:
381
NUMbER:
273
NUMbER:
93
NUMbER:
200
DEFINITIONS
1Flanders=Flemish+brusselsregion
2OvernightstaysandarrivalsfiguresarecollectedbytheFPS–Directorate-generalStatistics,incommerciallodgingaccommodations(hotels,campsites,holidayparks,youthaccommodationandsocialaccommodationforadults),includingcommercialrentalaccommodationsatthecoast.
Notincludedinthesefigures:b&b’s(unlesstheyhaveahotellicense),non-commercialrentalaccommodation,rentalaccommodationnotlocatedatthecoast,secondhomesandpermanentplacesonacampsite.
Thenumberofarrivalscorrespondswiththenumberofresidentialtourists,takingintoaccountthateachtouristiscountedasan‘arrival’eachtimeheusesanewaccommodation.
Thevolumeofovernightstaysisthetotalofallovernightstaysassociatedwiththeregisteredarrivals.Therepresentedarrivalandovernightfigurescoverbothleisureandbusinessmotivesforthestay.
3Thegrossoccupancyrateiscalculatedbasedonthenumberofrentedroomsinrelationtothenumbersofroomsavailable.Thegrossoccupancyratedoesnottakeintoaccountclosingdates.
4Accommodationfortargetgroups=youthaccommodationandsocialaccommodationforadults.
5Self-employedincludesthecategoriesHotels,Recreation,Cafés,Amusements,Fairsandliberalprofessionsinart.
VisitFlandersKennisbeheerkennisbeheer@toerismevlaanderen.be025040300
Moreresearch,statisticsanddefinitions:www.toerismevlaanderen.be/cijfers.
Publisher: PeterDeWilde, ToerismeVlaanderen,Grasmarkt61,1000brusselsWettelijkDepot: D/2013/5635/25/4
cONTAcT