Bulut Bağcı: "We Reaffirm Our Confidence in Brussels and Belgium"

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 23 September 2026

Global Tourism Forum President Bulut Bağcı attended a special meeting at the Warwick Brussels Hotel today in his capacity as a Visit Brussels Ambassador. The gathering brought together former ambassadors who have contributed to promoting Brussels internationally and strengthening its global connections.

During the meeting, Bağcı exchanged views on the future of Brussels’ tourism and events economy, the contribution of international gatherings to destination development, and opportunities for new partnerships across tourism, investment and business.

Highlighting Brussels’ position as one of Europe’s leading diplomatic and institutional centres, Bağcı emphasised the city’s international significance, cultural diversity, extensive transport connections and established meetings infrastructure.

Home to major international institutions, including the European Union and NATO, Brussels continues to serve as an important meeting point for political leaders, investors, business executives and international organisations.

Brussels: 9.63 Million Overnight Stays and More Than 15,000 Events

Official tourism figures for 2025 highlight Brussels’ position as a major international destination for tourism, business and events.

According to Visit Brussels, the city recorded 9.63 million tourist overnight stays in 2025, with business-related travel accounting for 53.5% of total overnight stays. Business-related overnight stays increased by 3.2% compared with the previous year, while hotel occupancy reached approximately 75%.

The city’s cultural appeal also remains significant. Brussels’ museums and tourist attractions registered 6.6 million visits in 2025, representing a 1.7% increase compared with the previous year. During the same period, 15,383 cultural and tourism events were recorded on the Visit Brussels events platform.

Brussels also maintained its position among the world’s leading destinations for international association meetings. According to the Union of International Associations (UIA), the city hosted 329 international organisation meetings in 2025, ranking second globally under the association’s classification.

International accessibility remains another important advantage. Brussels Airport welcomed 24.4 million passengers in 2025, recording growth of approximately 3.3% compared with the previous year. Its international connectivity continues to support Belgium’s tourism, trade and business events sectors.

“Our Confidence in Brussels and Belgium Continues to Grow”

Speaking following the gathering, Bağcı reaffirmed Global Tourism Forum’s long-term commitment to Brussels and Belgium, highlighting the city’s importance within the organisation’s international development strategy.

“Brussels is much more than one of Europe’s diplomatic capitals. It is a global meeting point where people, ideas, investments and opportunities from different parts of the world come together.

It was a great pleasure to meet with former Visit Brussels Ambassadors and exchange perspectives on the future of this remarkable city. Their international experience and continued commitment to Brussels represent an important contribution to its global visibility.

As Global Tourism Forum, we reaffirm our confidence in Brussels and Belgium. We see this city not simply as a host destination for our international events, but as a strategic centre for our long-term institutional development.

Our ambition is to contribute to Brussels’ international visibility while developing initiatives that attract new investment, strengthen global partnerships and create tangible economic opportunities.

Belgium’s international connectivity, institutional infrastructure and cultural diversity provide a strong foundation for this vision. We remain committed to strengthening our presence here and contributing to the continued development of Brussels as a global destination for tourism, investment and international dialogue.”

Global Tourism Forum to Bring International Tourism and Investment Leaders to Brussels in November

Global Tourism Forum will further reinforce its commitment to Brussels by hosting its 2026 Annual Meeting on 9–10 November at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

The international gathering will bring together senior representatives from the tourism and investment sectors to discuss global tourism investment, security, sustainable destination development, international capital flows and public-private partnerships.

The Annual Meeting forms part of Global Tourism Forum’s broader vision to connect governments, investors and industry leaders while creating long-term economic opportunities for host destinations.

Bağcı emphasised that international events should deliver value beyond discussions and networking by generating meaningful partnerships, attracting investment and supporting the economic development of the cities that host them.

He also underlined the importance of strengthening Brussels’ role as a centre for international dialogue and collaboration, noting that the city’s unique combination of diplomatic influence, connectivity and cultural heritage provides a strong foundation for future growth.

Global Tourism Forum will continue to expand its institutional presence and international activities in Brussels, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Belgium and contributing to the city’s position as a global hub for tourism, investment and international business events.