Antwerp is back to normal in strong July (Antwerp)
The summer sales of the month of July were a bull’s eye, according to the figures of the Mode Unie: “on average, sales were almost the same as pre-corona”, it sounds like. Linda Cloots from Meir-Experience Antwerp that wholeheartedly. “The sales were a great success, we are almost at the level of 2019. Even hot days – except for the one hottest – no problem. After 2.5 years of corona, we can say that the sector is doing almost as well as it was before corona, despite the recession, the energy problems and the war.”
You are then focused on thinking that things will go less well in Wijnegem – Shop Food Enjoy, but both shopping centers are certainly not communication vessels. “We have an increase of 2% compared to last year, although the weather was much better for too much indoors,” says Zso Horvath. In July this year we had 85% less rain than we experienced extreme temperatures, so it is logical that people came here looking for cooling.” With a monthly average of 650,000 visitors, the Shopping Center is almost back to pre-corona levels.
20% increase
Nico Volckeryck, regional director of the Neutral Syndicate for the Self-Employed makes nice statements: “I hear general satisfaction from our member retailers. Compared to last year, sales have increased by 20%. It is clear: the city is coming back to life. You also see that the Asian tourists visit Antwerp again. The big difference with last year is that the terraces are well filled again. And tourists indicate that they want to go again. I found people from Florida who were here for Tomorrowland. After an afternoon of shopping they already decided to come back, because they said: ‘it’s such a cool city’. That is what the city has to do: keep the wonder going with events, the cathedral, culture, events such as Antwerp Pride. An organization with an international image is always important. And with other cities. We need that there is more than the Meir. Japanese also come to see Hoboken. Others discover Berchem or other districts. And as a fiery Antwerp resident, I can only be happy that the combination Tall Ships and Bollekesfeesten is also Antwerp.”
That kind of event fills hotels, more is clear and things are already going better than last year, says Didier Boehlen of the Antwerp Hotel Association. “We are not yet at the figure for 2019, when we had 75% occupancy. But we are already reaching 70%. Combine that with a higher room rate and you will see that the turnover per room is still the same in 2019.”
“We have been lucky with three weekends at Tomorrowland, but we see that the midweeks do not follow. They are stuck at 50%. After corona, individual business tourism has virtually disappeared and is returning very slowly or even no longer. A part remains filled by online platforms. That is why we must focus even more on conference tourism and the promotion of the city as a conference city. Antwerp and Flanders are now focusing on this, but we will only see the results in three or four years, because conferences are planned so long in advance. And as far as recreational tourism is concerned, we hope that the Royal Museum of Fine Arts will play its role as a public magnet.”
ZOO visit takes a leap
Speaking of magnets, the ZOO that’s for sure. It is doing loosely 23% better this month than last year, although spokeswoman Amanda Wielemans readily admits that the bad summer of 2021 played a major role. “But we are back to the pre-corona level, that certainly applies to adventure park Planckendael. The 13% increase that we have recorded there this year is mainly due to the arrival of the orangutans. And in the long term there is also good news, because subscription records were broken last year and the new members remain loyal to our ZOO.”
Museumso are visitors. “It’s too early for figures,” reports Nadia De Vree, “but we will get the figures from July last year exactly. National and international customers have found their way back to our counters and online sales.”
Boekenberg breaks records
If a museum does not provide sufficient cooling, the urban swimming pools. And they are also on the rise. The visitor figures for this year in Zwemvijver Boekenberg already exceed those for the entire 2019 season, from 15 May to 15 September”, says marketing manager Pauline van Aarle, “but we can only achieve the general result at the end of the summer.” (see box)
Nevertheless, it is also clear to alderman of Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA) that July was an excellent month for tourism in Antwerp. “There was a very positive vibe in the city, there was a lot to experience. Not only the tourism sector, but also our shops, the cultural sector, even the velokes and the beneficiaries of shared mobility. Also proof that Antwerp doesn’t need much to revive. we are also versatile enough.”
This is also apparent from some figures. The counter of the information office in Het Steen received 31,071 visitors until last Thursday. With the weekend, hopes are for a total of 35,000, or 10,000 more than the previous record. In July 2019, the information desk on the Grote ‘only’ will receive 21,425 visitors. In the Central Station, the same volume was reached as in July 2019, with 51 visitors and 40% visitors from Europe. The top 5 foreigners are led by the Dutch, followed by Germans, French, Spaniards and Americans.
Visitor Pools
2019 2021
Swimming pond Boekenberg
36,345 46,387
Outdoor swimming pool De Molen
42,256 24,650
Velo . day passes
2019 8.189
2020 6.261
2021 6,031
2022 9,131