The number of persons employed in the travel agency sector in Belgium has seen various fluctuations from 2013 to 2023. In 2013, employment stood at 6.53 thousand, slightly decreasing over the next two years with minor recoveries in 2015. A significant decline occurred from 2016 to 2017, with an employment drop of more than 10%. Employment rebounded in 2018 but faced another decline in 2019 and 2020, likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-2020, employment figures showed some recovery, edging past 5.15 thousand employees in 2023. Importantly, the recent year-on-year growth was modest at 0.097%, revealing a stabilizing trend, albeit weak.
Over the next five years (2024-2028), the employment trend for travel agencies shows a declining trajectory, with the data forecasting a reduction to 4.51 thousand employees by 2028, signifying a 2.12% annual decline. This forecasted decrease points to an overall 10.16% shrinkage in employment over the forecast period. As of 2023, employment value stood at 5.15 thousand employees.
Future trends to watch for in this sector include the impact of technological advancements reducing the need for traditional travel agents, a potential rebound driven by post-pandemic travel resurge, and policy changes that might support or hinder sector growth.
