Belgians needed more travel assistance due to hot summer weather
Travel assistance organisations had to help more Belgians this summer due to the hot weather, show figures from Europ Assistance and VAB. The number of foreign technical files at Europ Assistance rose by 25 per cent. At VAB, the figures remained stable.
On average, Europ Assistance handled around 2,750 calls per day. 2,738 of their calls last summer were of a medical nature. In line with the temperature, the statistics for medical cases also rose. VAB also provided more assistance for health problems. The organisation recorded an increase of seven per cent. The need for medical assistance rose particularly in the United States and Austria.
Europ Assistance helped 2,738 people with medical problems. This number has risen by no less than 23 per cent. This is in line with the trend of 2024, when the figures had already risen by 16 per cent. “It is striking that holidaymakers are spreading out more and more across the globe, sometimes to engage in activities for which they are ill-prepared,” stated the organisation. The persistent heat also caused a high number of stomach and intestinal complaints and heart and respiratory problems.
When VAB had to go abroad, half of the time it was to France. Europ Assistance also saw France as the frontrunner, with around 37 per cent of calls coming from there. The technical problems were of all kinds. Seventy per cent of drivers were unable to continue due to engine failure or starting problems, and 20 per cent due to negligence. VAB mainly responded to problems with tyres and wheels.
VAB also saw a noticeable increase in the number of problems with electric vehicles. In total, there were 34 per cent more problems with electric vehicles, although that number remains limited compared to other calls. The number of accidents for which VAB was called out did fall by 11.6 per cent.
Illustration © PHOTO Alberto Lingria/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM
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