During the two-day visit, Rifai was presented with the latest results of the region’s Tourist Satellite Account, which measures the added value brought to the economy by tourism. Tourism represents about 2.3% of the Flemish economy, on a level with countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. Flanders is one of only seven regions that are part of UNWTO (the rest are countries) and represents the other six for the next two years on the organisation’s management committee.

“I’m very pleased today to be able, in the presence of Mr Rifai, to present these figures,” Bourgeois said. “Flanders is the first region in Europe to have such figures available, but it’s important to compare them with similar figures from other countries to be able to determine their importance. Flanders is in the middle ground relating to the gross added value of the tourism industry. Those countries with a higher rating are all tourist destinations with enormous natural advantages, like Spain and Portugal.”