Overtourism? Inflation? Worrying world events? What are those? According to the Association of Flemish Travel Agencies or Vereniging Vlaamse Reisbureaus (VVR) Belgians have already booked more holidays in 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of holiday bookings from Belgium (and not per se ín Belgium) has increased annually, and this trend continues for the coming season. For Belgians, a trip can be costly, and there is a growing preference for long-distance travel. 

Here are the travel trends for spring and summer 2025.

Belgians have already booked more holidays in 2025 compared to the same period last year, VVR spokesperson Koen Van Den Bosch tells Het Nieuwsblad. 

This trend, which began post-pandemic, is bolstered by the so-called cafeteria plans, where Belgians often opt for extra vacation days after a company car. Notably, people are willing to spend more on holidays despite inflation-driven price increases.

What plan?

With a cafeteria plan or multiple-choice plan, Belgian employees and company managers can convert part of their gross salary into other, less taxed benefits. 

A wide range of benefits is usually offered, such as additional vacation days, additional pension savings or child benefits, expanding the coverage of the hospitalization insurance offered, additional stock options, the choice of a larger or smaller company car and leasing (electric) bicycles.

An employee can, for example, opt for a smaller company car and convert the corresponding gross salary into a lease bicycle.

The cafeteria plan has two major advantages. On the one hand, the employee can choose the available extra-legal benefits themselves, so that they can choose a tailor-made salary package, based on their own preferences and needs. 

In addition, most of the offered allowances for Belgian social security do not fall under the salary, and are therefore exempt from social contributions. Often, the employer has to pay special contributions, or the employee pays a solidarity contribution.

Cafeteria plans are one of the fiscal and parafiscal exemptions in the Belgian tax system.

Destinations

While France, Spain, and Europe remain popular holiday destinations for Belgians, long-haul destinations are gaining traction. 

This popularity is driven by a renewed range of long-haul flights. After the pandemic, travellers were initially cautious, and many direct flights were cancelled. However, now numerous long-haul destinations can be reached effortlessly from Brussels.

Airlines like Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines have expanded their routes, contributing to the popularity of Asian destinations. Airbnb reports that Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia saw increased popularity among Belgians last year.

Train travel

Although car, bus, and plane journeys remain common, train travel is becoming more popular. 

The wider range of train companies, falling costs, and better coordination among trains are key factors. Additionally, travellers are increasingly viewing the train journey itself as part of their holiday, making multiple stops to combine destinations.

Hotels

(All-in) hotel holidays remain popular, with both TUI and Koen Van Den Bosch confirming this trend. Hotels offer convenience, with breakfast prepared and rooms cleaned daily. 

All-inclusive resorts are still favoured, especially by families with young children. However, there is a shift towards smaller boutique hotels offering a more personal atmosphere and often located away from tourist hubs.

Slow travel, vintage holidays and retro trips

TUI highlights the trend of vintage holidays and retro trips, where travellers seek atmospheric hotels away from tourist crowds or local eateries with authentic dishes. 

Others seek destinations preserving old values and traditions, untouched by modern influences. The slow travel concept aligns with these vintage holidays, encouraging travellers to slow down and enjoy the journey. Walking and cycling holidays are popular, both in groups and as tailor-made family trips.

In and out of season

The changing society is reflected in travel trends, with July and August remaining popular due to family holidays. 

However, the mid-season is also gaining traction. Singles, childless couples, and newly formed families are driving this trend, making May, June, September, and October busier. 

This social differentiation is evident in the increasingly specialised travel products, with themed trips and companies catering to specific groups, such as singles over fifty or horse-riding enthusiasts.

Money over morals

Unfortunately, sustainability often takes a backseat, with holiday price remaining a higher priority than ecological footprint. While a small group prioritises sustainability, consumer awareness still needs improvement. 

The number of travellers contributing financially to ecological initiatives to reduce their trip’s impact is growing, but more work is needed in this area.

An assessment

A few trends are noteworthy. Are more people travelling outside school vacations? Yes. As a matter of fact, at work we see May, June, September and October being more popular for time off, and thus it’s harder to get time time off then. Certainly compared to when Danny and I started at the NMBS / SNCB. Some fifteen and thirteen years ago. 

It’s clear comfort and convenience score highly. Everyone can see the societal shift where self-reliance is going down and people choose more often pre-cooked and bite-sized vacation offerings. 

The train more popular? Yes. Trains coming from the Netherlands to Antwerp-Central Railway Station are full on Fridays and weekends. 

At the time I’m writing this, Jeroen is looking into travel plans for May. He’s looking at a train trip, but he is influenced by high pricing in some cities. He was thinking of Dubrovnik in Croatia, but he won’t. 

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