The holidays started facing the sea for many Belgians. Reservations at La Côte are up from last summer, despite the increase in prices. It can be seen in the accommodation but also in the small pleasures.
At the Blankenberge velodrome, the holidays have already begun. For 6 euros, Yad and Youssef treated themselves to a bike ride. Here, the prices have not changed this year. “We have to stay like that because if we ask too much… For people, coming to the Coast is already something extra. People also have to drink, eat… If we ask too much, they people are not going to come”, confides Thierry, the owner of the velodrome.
It is on the terrace that prices have changed the most. “Here, for a beer, 4.50 euros is already not bad”, underlines a person questioned this Saturday. In a restaurant, for example, count 55 euros for a double pan of mussels.
For Freddy, dinner will be ashore with his few fries in a box. “Yes it’s quite expensive, and I don’t think it’s a good thing because tourists will end up not coming anymore”, he believes.
Head for the beach and there too, bad news… The deckchair costs up to €2 more per day this summer. “Last year, it was 6 euros”remembers a vacationer.
“We don’t know how to do otherwise. Everything has become so expensive in the stores, etc… We have to increase. It’s not what we want, but it’s the crisis for everyone”adds Virginie, a beach attendant.
The crisis even in hotels and vacation homes. Add 10% to your night, and yet more and more of you come to the Coast.
According to the Coast Tourist Office, reservations are up this summer (+14% compared to 2021). The occupancy rate of holiday homes is also very good (75 to 85% occupancy).