placement: superzone
path: articles/hero
containerId: gpt-ad-369787657450
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Belgium boosts domestic tourism with restaurant and cultural vouchers for residents

Jun 17, 2020

2 MIN READ

Photo Taken In Brussels, Belgium
1095332968
brussels

placement: inContentSidebar
path: articles/in-content-top
containerId: gpt-ad-806809083234
possible size: [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

The Belgian government announced a raft of measures last week to encourage domestic tourism as the country emerges from three months of lockdown.

Some of those measures include an extension of parental leave and a €300 (US$337) tax-deductible voucher that workers can receive from their employers to use in restaurants, museums, theatres and other hard-hit sectors. A free 10-journey rail pass was supposed to be introduced in July as part of the package but that particular scheme has been rejected by the country's national rail operator amid health and safety concerns, according to The Brussels Times.

Belgium has been hit hard by the coronavirus but as infection rates have decreased in recent weeks, the government is continuing to review lockdown measures and gradually ease restrictions.

placement: inContentSidebar
path: articles/in-content-middle
containerId: gpt-ad-700569526979
possible size: [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Phase three of the country's roadmap out of lockdown got underway on 8 June with most businesses resuming operations, including cafes, restaurants and bars, with the requirement that tables must be kept 1. 5 metres apart. Tourist boats have returned to the canals of Bruges, hotels have begun to accept bookings and, as of 15 June, restrictions have been lifted for travel within the European Union, and from the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Tourists are returning to Bruges ©Olena Z/Shutterstock

placement: native
path: articles/in-content-native
containerId: gpt-ad-256659535879
possible size: [f, l],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Belgium's package to encourage domestic tourism is similar to incentives being introduced in other countries. Japan, for example, is considering partly funding domestic trips through its Go To Travel campaign and New Zealand has proposed a four-day work week to give residents additional holiday time. Switzerland has also proposed providing residents with vouchers worth 200CHF (US$210) to be spent in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

This article was first published on 15 June and updated on 17 June, 2020.

You might also like:

A stroll in Marolles: what to do in Brussels' hippest area New Zealand mulls a four-day work week to boost domestic tourism 10 of the world's most amazing train journeys

placement: sidebar
path: articles/sidebar
containerId: gpt-ad-653426567868
possible size: [300, 600], [300, 250], [160, 600],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Sasha Brady
Writer
Dublin
I'm a Dublin-based writer and digital editor for Lonely Planet, where I've been part of the team since 2018. Growing up in a family scattered around the world sparked a lifelong love of travel. There was always someone to visit somewhere. While my travels have taken me across Latin America, Australia and Europe, it's always the anticipation of the next adventure that excites me the most. My approach to travel is all about experiencing a place as locals do, delving into its culture through its m…

placement: sidebar
path: articles/sidebar-2
containerId: gpt-ad-557257700876
possible size: [300, 600], [300, 250], [160, 600],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

placement: fullWidth
path: articles/bottom
containerId: gpt-ad-762955417273
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "belgium-to-boost-domestic-travel",
  "destination": "Belgium",
  "title": "belgium",
  "country": "Belgium",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}