Tourism in Belgium

Tourism in Belgium

Tourism in Belgium is one of Belgium's industries, and its accessibility from elsewhere in Europe still makes it a popular tourist destination. The tourist industry generates 2.8% of Belgium's Gross Domestic Product and employs 3.3% of the working population (142,000 people). [cite web |url=http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/Flanders%2BToday/tourism/070302_WECOFORUM |title="More support for tourism" |publisher=flandersnews.be |date=2007-03-02 |accessdate=2007-03-02] 6.7 million people travelled to Belgium in 2005. [ [http://www.euromonitor.com/Travel_and_Tourism_in_Belgium Travel and Tourism in Belgium] - euromonitor.com] Two thirds of them come from the larger nearby countries - France, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.

In 1993, 2% of the total workforce was employed in tourism, less than in many neighbouring countries. [ [http://www.wto.org/English/tratop_e/serv_e/w51.doc Tourism Services] - World Trade Organization] Much of the tourism industry is located either at the heavily developed coastline or in the Ardennes. [ [http://www.diplomatie.be/en/belgium/belgiumdetail.asp?TEXTID=1750 Belgium - The tertiary sector] from diplomatie.be] Brussels and the Flemish cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp attract many cultural tourists. [ [http://www.euromonitor.com/Travel_and_Tourism_in_Belgium Travel and Tourism in Belgium] - euromonitor.com]

Belgium ranked 21st on the World Economic Forum's 2007 "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index", lower than all the neighbouring countries. [cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/TravelandTourismReport/CompetitivenessIndex/index.htm |title=Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2007-03-01 |accessdate=2007-03-02] Although the country scored highly for 'natural and cultural resources', it was ranked only 114th in the world for both 'price competitiveness' and 'availability of qualified labor'. [cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/pdf/tourism/Belgium.pdf |title=Belgium Country/Economy Profile |work=Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index |format=PDF |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2007-03-01 |accessdate=2007-03-02] In recent years the number of international tourists has stayed relatively stable, but the income they generate has increased to 9.863 billion US Dollars in 2005.

References

ee also

*List of Belgian museums
*Europalia

External links

* [http://www.visitflanders.com/ Official Flanders tourism site]
* [http://www.visitbelgium.com/ Belgian Tourist Office in the U.S.]
* [http://www.belgiumtheplaceto.be/ Official Brussels & Wallonia tourism site]
* [http://www.opt.be Official Wallonia-Brussels tourism site]
* [http://www.trabel.com/ Trabel]
* [http://www.virtualbruges.be/ Virtual Tour of Bruges]
* [http://www.belgiumcities.info/ Concise tourist guide to cities in Belgium]
* [http://www.ardennes-info.be/ Portal to the Belgian Ardennes]


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