Walloon Region

Walloon Region

Tourism in the economy In 2007, the volume of tourism as registered in tourist accommodation (exclusive of

rural tourism) was approximately 6 785 000 nights spent (down by 0.7% on 2006) with arrivals totalling 2 599 000 (a 1.6% increase). The five leading origin markets for the region are the Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. Together these five countries accounted for 958 000 arrivals in 2007, 1.2% up on 2006.

The number of tourists visiting a panel of 217 attractions was 8 534 000 day-trippers in 2008 (0.7% up on 2007). Tourism’s share in the Walloon economy is of the order of 5% of GDP.

Generally the number of day-trippers (domestic tourists) has held relatively steady for

6 consecutive years. The number of nights spent has declined over this same period and the number of arrivals continues to show a relative increase. Length of stay is still relatively short at 2.6 days on average.

Tourism organisation On the administrative side of the organisation of tourism, 2008 was an important year

for the administration of tourism in the Wallonia: on 1 July of that year, the General Commission for Tourism (Commissariat Général au Tourisme, CGT) became a public body, giving it greater operational independence. It reports solely to the Minister for Tourism (Figure 4.4).

The missions of the CGT are set out in the Decree on the Organisation of Tourism of 2004. They centre on the following themes: ● implementing the government’s general policy on tourism;

● managing tourist properties – properties of the Wallonia Region, a list of which has been

established by the government; 128

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2010 © OECD 2010

Figure 4.4. Walloon Region, Belgium: Organisational chart of tourism bodies

Ministry of Local Authorities and Cities

Walloon Tourism

General Commission

Engineering Centre

for Tourism

Tourism Promotion Agency

Partnerships with Tourism Tourism Administration and Operators

Inspection

Tourism Infrastructure and Equipment

Tourism Accommodation

Tourism Promotion Agency Tourism Products and Marketing

Coordination for European Affairs

Tourism Observatory

Source: OECD, adapted from Commissariat Général au Tourisme, 2009.

● organising and promoting tourism in the Walloon Region; ● administering licence applications and issuing licences; ● defining the content of the image of Wallonia for tourism; ● analysing and disseminating data on tourism policy in the Walloon Region; ● developing regional tourism products; and ● implementing specific initiatives assigned to it by the Walloon government.

There are five CGT Directorates. These cover tourism bodies, attractions and infrastructure, accommodation, products and marketing and tourism strategy. In 2008, the Wallonia Brussels Tourism Promotion Bureau continued with its programme of establishing tourism promotion clubs. At the regional level in Wallonia, a new player, (the Centre d’Ingénierie Touristique de Wallonie, GIE) was given a mandate to develop operational tourism engineering in Wallonia.

Tourism budget In 2009, the initial budget of the CGT was EUR 53.79 million, of which EUR 8.79 million

were allocated to operations. The budget does not include funding for projects co-financed by the European Commission (total budgets currently approved for the period 2007-13 are of the order of EUR 97 million).

The CGT’s resources are mainly in the form of subsidies from the Walloon Region’s government, with only a small fraction coming from products and charges.

Tourism-related policies and programmes The plan for the restructuring and development of the tourism industry in Wallonia was

formulated in 2007. In 2008, the CGT put forward a strategic framework, based on the premise

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2010 © OECD 2010

In order to improve the performance of the tourism sector in Wallonia, four strategic directions and three tools were chosen by the CGT. These are:

Strategic directions: ● achieving an optimal positioning of supply;

● improving the quality of supply; ● consolidating Wallonia’s quality image; and ● adhering to ethical principles and the principle of sustainable development.

Tools: ● an international marketing plan has been developed for tourism promotion, covering the

period 2007-16;

a strategic plan has also been produced for restructuring and promoting tourism supply as well as the Walloon Tourism Code – specifying the regulatory environment; and

a quality approach and territorial quality certification mark has been introduced in Wallonia alongside the creation of a tourism “engineering” network in Wallonia.

Good practice: The quality approach in the tourism sector in the Wallonia Region is to be aimed at two

main goals: competitiveness and sustainability. This is seen as an on-going process of innovation and improvement of tourism supply in Wallonia aimed at ensuring that visitors have an enjoyable experience tailored to their needs and requirements.

The approach will be based on a joint charter for all professionals in the sector. The charter will be representative of current concerns both as regards sustainable, ethical and quality tourism and as regards promotion and information that is respectful to all. This approach will be supported by a practical, local (quality) mark.

Statistical profile Table 4.14. Belgium: Domestic overnight tourism

2008 Number of overnight stays

14 448 14 267 Walloon Region

Flanders Region 1 Thousands

3 705 3 587 1. Flanders: Flemish and Brussels Region.

Sources: Directorate-General of Statistics and Economic Information (DGSIE) for the Walloon Region and Tourism Office for Flanders, Tourism in Figures 2008.

12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/765538050051

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2010 © OECD 2010

Table 4.15. Belgium: Inbound tourism – International arrivals

2008 Total international arrivals

7 221 Flanders Region 1 Total international arrivals

6 051 Top 5 markets Netherlands

845 United Kingdom

Walloon Region

1 170 Top 5 markets Netherlands

Total international arrivals

109 United Kingdom

35 39 46 44 44 1. Flanders: Flemish and Brussels Region.

Thousands

Sources: Directorate-General of Statistics and Economic Information (DGSIE) for the Walloon Region and Tourism Office for Flanders, Tourism in Figures 2008.

12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/765573500142

Table 4.16. Belgium: Outbound tourism – Number of trips