Forecast: International Tourist Arrivals in Belgium

Belgium's international tourist arrivals showed a steady increase from 2013 to 2015. However, 2016 saw a sharp decline by over 10% due to security concerns. From 2017 onwards, the number of arrivals generally recovered, peaking in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic drop of over 70% in 2020, followed by a strong recovery through 2021 and 2022. In 2023, tourist arrivals reached an estimated 9.9679 million, reflecting an increase of approximately 20.57% year-on-year from 2022.

Looking ahead, forecast data anticipates continuous growth where arrivals could reach 11.435 million by 2028. This represents a 2.18% annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024-2028 and an overall growth rate of 11.38% over five years.

Future trends to watch for:

• Recovery in travel-related spending post-pandemic
• Growing interest in sustainable tourism
• Impact of regulatory changes and travel policies
• Developments in transport infrastructure and connectivity