The summer of 2025 has been particularly busy for Europ Assistance, with the company reporting strong increases in both medical and technical assistance cases compared with previous years. 

Following a grey spring, many Belgians headed abroad in search of sunshine, opting for both short-haul and long-haul destinations. Prolonged heatwaves in southern Europe contributed to a surge in medical files, while the large number of travellers on the road, combined with an ageing fleet of vehicles, drove up requests for roadside assistance.

Surge in medical cases linked to heatwaves

Between 27 June and 27 August, Europ Assistance handled 2,738 medical cases abroad, up 23% on the same period in 2024. Last summer had already seen a 16% rise compared with 2023. The prolonged hot weather in southern Europe left a clear mark: younger travellers under 20 were more likely to suffer gastrointestinal problems, while people over 50 faced more cases linked to heart and respiratory issues, as well as neurological problems such as heatstroke. Infections and dermatological complaints were also more common.

Mediterranean

Most medical cases in Europe occurred in France, accounting for 19%, followed by Spain at 12%, Italy at 7%, Greece at 4% and Turkey at 4%. Countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Overseas

Long-haul destinations also contributed significantly to the workload. Thailand accounted for 5% of all cases, with the United States, Indonesia and Morocco each responsible for between 3% and 4%. 

The company notes that holidaymakers are increasingly dispersing across the globe, sometimes undertaking activities for which they are not adequately prepared or travelling to places with insufficient medical infrastructure, making assistance more difficult.

The most common medical issues were trauma such as fractures, injuries and sprains, which represented 44% of cases. Infections accounted for 15%, gastrointestinal complaints 12%, while cardiac, respiratory, dermatological and neurological problems, including heatstroke, each made up around 4%.

Vehicle breakdowns increase by a quarter

Technical interventions abroad also increased sharply. Europ Assistance opened 8,382 files for vehicle breakdowns outside Belgium, a rise of 25% compared with 2024. Several factors contributed to this figure: more Belgians chose to travel by car, in some cases after last-minute bookings; older combustion-engine vehicles are increasingly prone to problems; and the company has expanded its client base for technical assistance. 

France accounted for 37% of these cases, followed by the Netherlands at 23%, Spain at 10%, Germany at 7%, and Italy and Luxembourg with 6% each.

The vast majority of problems involved engine failure, battery or starting issues, making up 70% of cases. A further 20% were the result of carelessness, including keys locked in vehicles, incorrect fuel or tyre damage. Accidents accounted for 9%.

Demand rises at home as well as abroad

Within Belgium itself, Europ Assistance also reported a rise in demand. More than 31,700 cases of roadside assistance were recorded between 27 June and 27 August, 3% higher than last year. 

The staggered timing of school holidays contributed to the spread of cases, with French-speaking schools starting a week later than Flemish schools and finishing on 24 August.

Altogether, Europ Assistance handled an average of more than 2,750 calls a day across its range of assistance services this summer, while its digital assistance app received more than 10,000 requests. Peak call moments were noted just after the extended 21 July weekend and during the busy changeover weekends between July and August.

Requests for assistance were received from every continent, underlining the global reach of the company’s operations.

Global network

Europ Assistance, founded in 1963 and part of the Generali Group, provides services in more than 200 countries through a network of recognised providers. The company employs 12,000 staff across 39 countries and specialises in travel insurance and medical assistance, roadside and mobility help, home and family support, health services, elder care and concierge services.

On tourism

• ​Visit Antwerp in a day or two.
• Flanders continues post-pandemic tourism revival with the help of its beers.
• City of Antwerp prepares crackdown on Airbnb growth amid complaints in Sint-Andries.
• ANTWERP SUMMER 2025 | 2.9 million day-trippers and 552,161 overnight stays.
• INDIA | Skyscanner sees rise of ‘shared experiences’ as travel trend.
• BELGIUM | Flight shame? Airports break records during 2025 summer season.
• Belgium sees record number of overnight stays via online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.
• Antwerp 5th on 2025 Happy City Index.
• Flanders highlights Castles of the Brussels Green Belt.
• Tourism Flanders to tackle illegal Airbnb accommodations amidst housing shortage reality.
• Belgians choose safety, sustainability and convenience for summer travel: climate change, geopolitical instability and flight convenience shape 2025 holiday trends.
• OVERTOURISM | Alternatives for Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Santorini, Paris, Dubrovnik, London and Rome?.
• Belgians book Asia, vintage travel and boutique hotels for spring and summer 2025.
• There’s more than one way to enjoy a cruise.
• SOLO TRAVEL | More expensive, but also some advantages.
• Flanders updates star classification for hotels.
• WINTER IN ANTWERP 2024-2025 | 1.3M visitors, 120K for New Year’s fireworks, 64.4% hotel occupancy.
• OPINION | Travelling on a package holiday.
• Are there too many hotels in Antwerp?.
• ANTWERP SUMMER 2024 | 2.7 million day tourists and 493K overnight stays.
• 2024 | Twice as many Belgians will travel by train this summer.
• Spain saw a surge of Belgians visiting in the first quarter of 2024.
• Antwerp number 1 of 40 most exciting cities to visit in 2024.
• Antwerp’s municipal museums welcomed over 1.5 million visitors in 2023.
• CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL | Is Belgium ready to be the Spain and Italy of the future?.
• Condé Nast Traveler praises Antwerp as one of the Best Places to Go in 2024 in Europe.
• Flanders’ art cities residents still proud of their city, but highlight drawbacks of tourism more
• Antwerp hotel industry demands stricter rules and enforcement for Airbnb as business tourism is not recovering.
• ANTWERP | 13.5 million day tourists, 2.6 million overnight stays and less Dutch visitors in 2023.
• ANTWERP | 2022 tourism statistics show recovery towards 2019 numbers.
• City happy with Winter in Antwerp 2022-2023 edition.
• City sees Winter in Antwerp 2023-2024 breaking attendance records.
• Belgians make 4.5 million day trips to Antwerp every year.
• ANTWERP | 2.2 million day tourists and 398K overnight stays in the summer of 2023.
• ANTWERP | 2 million day tourists and 337K overnight stays in the summer of 2022.
• Belgians travelled massively in the first quarter of 2022.
• The Major Flaws of domestic tourism in Belgium.
• Discovering Belgium and the Netherlands in COVID times.