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COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level responses

Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for case BE-2021-14/1915 – measures in Belgium

Support for tourist sector

Steun Toeristische Sector

Country Belgium , applies regionally

    • – BE2 VLAAMS GEWEST
Time period Open ended, started on 29 March 2021
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to get back to normal
– Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work
Author Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound
Case created 08 June 2021 (updated 29 June 2021)

Background information

The Flemish and local governments have launched a variety of initiatives in recent months to specifically support the tourist sector in Flanders, namely:

  • Support for marches, festivals, processions.
  • Support for the relaunch of tourism in 2021.
  • Transition support for tourist enterprises in West-Flanders (the province that is at the seaside, which depends significantly on tourism).
  • Support for social-tourist sector.

Content of measure

Support for marches, festivals, processions:

The Flemish government provides financial contributions for festivals that launch events in the coming summer (in a safe way). The event has to be organised for at least 60% outdoors and have 'international potential'.

A system of five support categories is used, depending on the type and size of the event. In total a budget of €10 million is provided.

Support for the relaunch of tourism in 2021:

The Flemish government made €30 million available for enterprises within the tourist sector in Flanders. The measure allowed those eligible to receive a sum of up to €200,000. They are however obliged to repay 75% of the received sum within five years.

Support for social-tourist sector:

The same system applies for the social-tourist sector, however they are only obliged to repay 60% of the sum received.

Transition support for tourist enterprises in West-Flanders (the province that is at the seaside, which depends significantly on tourism).

The province of West-Flanders supports the local tourist SME's with financial contributions between €2,500 and €7,500.

Use of measure

No data available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Sector specific set of companies
SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
Local / regional government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities I55 Accommodation
      I56 Food and beverage service activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Support for tourist sector, case BE-2021-14/1915 (measures in Belgium), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.