The Belgian travel market continues to show resilience. That is the conclusion of the latest Travel Intentions Survey by the Association of Belgian Travel Organizers (ABTO), conducted by NielsenIQ in May 2026, TravMagazine reports. The survey estimates that 6.35 million Belgians still intend to travel this year but have not yet booked their holiday.
The figure is slightly higher than last year’s estimate of 6.24 million travellers, although it remains below the 2024 peak, when more than 7 million potential travellers were recorded. According to ABTO, the findings point to cautious consumer optimism and indicate that significant demand remains available for both the summer season and the autumn travel period.
July and September emerge as key travel months
Among travellers who have not yet made a booking, July is the most popular planned departure month, attracting 25% of respondents. September follows with 17%, suggesting that many Belgians are still considering late-summer and early-autumn holidays.
Last-minute bookings remain popular
The survey found that 29% of respondents intend to book their holiday within 30 days of departure. While last-minute travel remains an important part of the market, this share is slightly lower than the 31% recorded in 2025. The figures suggest that travellers may be returning to somewhat earlier planning habits.
Travel budgets remain relatively strong
The average maximum travel budget stands at €977 per person. Although this is lower than the €1,026 recorded in 2025, it remains above the levels seen in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The data indicates that travellers remain willing to spend on holidays despite ongoing economic uncertainty, although budgets appear to be under slightly greater pressure than a year ago.
Europe remains the favourite destination
Europe continues to dominate travel intentions, with 73% of respondents planning a trip within the continent. Africa ranks a distant second with 6% of travel intentions, while Asia accounts for 4% and the Americas for 2%.
France remains the most popular destination among Belgian travellers, attracting 20% of travel intentions. Belgium itself ranks second with 12%, followed by Spain with 10%. Greece, and Italy complete the top five, each accounting for 6% of planned trips.
One notable trend is the continued growth of Greece, which has steadily increased its share of Belgian travel intentions in recent years.
Hotels remain the preferred accommodation
Hotels continue to be the accommodation of choice for most travellers. More than half of respondents, 51%, indicated a preference for hotel stays.
Rental accommodation follows at 34%, while 17% prefer bed-and-breakfasts or guesthouses. Campsites have also gained modest popularity and now account for 13% of accommodation preferences.
Car travel remains dominant
The car remains the most popular means of transport for holidays, chosen by 45% of respondents. Air travel follows with 37%.
Rail travel continues to gain ground, representing 6% of travel intentions. Although still a relatively small segment of the market, the figures suggest a gradual increase in the popularity of train travel among Belgian holidaymakers.
Online booking continues to dominate
The survey also confirms the dominance of digital booking channels. Around 69% of travellers plan to book their holiday online, while 23% prefer to make reservations through offline channels.
The findings suggest that, despite some moderation in travel budgets, Belgian consumers remain eager to travel in 2026. With millions of potential travellers still yet to book, the industry may still have considerable opportunities during the remainder of the summer season and into the autumn months.
