Travel agents report rise in foreign holidays over Easter break
Travel agencies in Flanders are reporting a significant increase in bookings for the Easter holidays. 35 per cent more Flemish people are going on holiday this year than in the previous two years, TUI reported in a press release on Friday.
The Association of Belgian Tour Operators (ABTO) confirmed the upward travel trend. "In general, we are seeing a much greater appetite for travel in Flanders than before 2024," said spokesperson Pierre Fivet.
Fivet points to a willingness to pay more for vacations, citing the maximum holiday budget per person in 2020 being around 769 euros compared to 1,039 euros in 2024.
Easter holidays fall earlier this year, ensuring a more favourable price. "The second week of the Easter holidays falls just within the mid-season price, which means there are better deals. The fact that Walloons no longer have a holiday during the Easter holidays means there is more capacity for Flemish people," said Fivet.
French-speaking education in Belgium has had an adjusted holiday calendar since the 2022-2023 school year, meaning only Flanders still has the traditional Easter holidays. In the Netherlands, France and parts of Germany, there are also no school holidays during this time, leaving more accommodations available for families from Flanders.
Winter sports holidays also continue to be popular. According to travel agency Sunweb, the number of winter sports holidays has risen by 18.5 per cent from last year.
#FlandersNewsService | © AFP PHOTO/ MIGUEL RIOPA
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