One of the interesting things about running a business in a number of different countries is to be able to observe how different countries do things.
I knew very little about Belgium before my first visit in 2006. I knew about Brussels simply because of the European Parliament but little else.
Having travelled the length and breadth of the country over the last two years I have been astonished to discover one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Belgium is a wonderful country to visit, whether it is the rolling hills of the Ardennes, the many beautify historical cites such as Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Mechelen to name but a few. You can enjoy seaside resorts such as Ostend while indulging in great food, amazing beers and chocolate to die for. There are world class museums and art galleries, not to mention great night life and fashion.
Yet I wonder why more people are not aware of what is on offer in Belgium. One of the problems seems to be political. Belgium has three district regions, Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia and don’t forget that Belgium is a small country the size of Munster. From a tourism perspective each region is marketed independent of each other. They do come together under the Visit Belgium banner but they have three separate Tourist Offices. Looking at www.visitbelgium.com I am struck by how old fashioned the site is, it certainly does not do the country it is trying to sell any justice.
In contrast it is worth looking at www.discoverireland.com - you will be struck by how smart and professional that site is. The state bodies such as Tourism Ireland have done a wonderful job in promoting Ireland internationally. They are always creative and innovate and I feel that the Belgian authorities should have a good look at the Irish model. I just wonder if there is a political will or are they happy to remain Europe’s best kept secret.
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Prem Group in Europe.
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