Trips of EU residents - annual data (tour_dem)

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statbel - Statistics Belgium


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Accessibility and clarity
11. Quality management
12. Relevance
13. Accuracy
14. Timeliness and punctuality
15. Coherence and comparability
16. Cost and Burden
17. Data revision
18. Statistical processing
19. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Statbel - Statistics Belgium
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Social Statistics Department
1.5. Contact mail address

Statbel

16, Boulevard Albert II 

1000 Bruxelles 

Belgium


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 28/09/2023
2.2. Metadata last posted 28/09/2023
2.3. Metadata last update 28/09/2023


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

The data set contains variables on the trips (e.g. month of departure, number of nights, main country of destination, main purpose of the trip, expenditure ...) as well as on the individual (gender, age, country of residence, educational level, employment situation).
3.2. Classification system

Not applicable
3.3. Coverage - sector

National tourism: domestic tourism and outbound tourism (trips made by residents of the reporting country).
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions

See annexes
3.4.2 Additional comments (e.g. country-specific deviations)


Annexes:
Regulation 692/2011
Methodological Manual for Tourism Statistics
Delegated Regulation 2019/1681
3.5. Statistical unit
3.5.1 Statistical unit 

Participation in tourism: the individual.

Tourism trips: the tourism trip with at least one overnight stay made by the individual. Individuals report details about their trip (main purpose of the travel, transport used etc.) and about their person (socio-demographic profile). Travel expenditure is surveyed for all accompanying household members, and then broken down by individuals.

Same-day visits: the SDV made by the individual.
3.5.2 Reporting unit Each person in the selected household (within the age scope)
3.5.3 If other or additional comments, please specify
3.6. Statistical population
3.6.1 Statistical population

Same-day visits: All outbound SDV made outside the usual environment by the residents [reference year 2022: only outbound SDV].

Participation in tourism: all individuals residing in the country, but due to selection criteria collective households are excluded.

Tourism trips: all tourism trips of at least one overnight stay outside the usual environment, made by the resident population.
3.6.2 Additional comments (e.g. deviating coverage in terms of age groups, multiple surveys with different subpopulation, inclusion of domestic same-day visits in years where this is not compulsory)

Collective households (mostly care homes) and households with youngest member aged 85 or over are excluded from the survey.
3.7. Reference area

Belgium
3.8. Coverage - Time

Coverage - Time [data comparable since (YYYY)]

3.8.1 Participation in tourism (Year)

1997
3.8.2 Tourism trips (Year)

1997
3.8.3 Same-day visits (outbound) (Year)

1997
3.8.4 Same-day visits (domestic) (Year)

1997
3.8.5 Additional comments (e.g. longer series for subgroups)
3.9. Base period

Not applicable


4. Unit of measure Top

Not applicable.


5. Reference Period Top

2022


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
6.1.1 European level

See annexes
6.1.2 National level

No national law


Annexes:
Regulation 692/2011
Regulation 1051/2011
Delegated Regulation 2019/1681
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Not applicable


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

All the information collected by Statbel about individuals is protected by statistical confidentiality. These data are only used for statistical and scientific purposes. In order to secure statistical confidentiality, all staff members and all surveyors contracted by Statbel have signed a declaration, in which they confirm that they are aware of the obligations arising from statistical confidentiality and that they will comply with this statistical confidentiality.



Annexes:
Privacy Policy
Data protection authority / legislation
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

All the data sets are anonymised. 

The dissemination of pseudonymised study data is strictly regulated. The procedure is described on Stabel's website: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/microdata-research.

In order to get the permission of Statbel's Data Protection Officer team and finally as data controller, Statbel's director-general, the third party should follow a procedure and sufficiently motivate the proportionality and relevance of its request. The more confidential the information requested, the better the need for it to be motivated.


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

Data are released 6 months after the reference period.
8.2. Release calendar access

https://statbel.fgov.be/en/calendar
8.3. Release policy - user access

Press release at same time as publication of aggregated data on website: ICT usage in households

All data are accessible to all users at the same time.


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

yearly + limited publication of quarterly figures


10. Accessibility and clarity Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

Latest press release for 3th quarter of 2023: Survey on holidays and travels | Statbel (fgov.be)

Press release for 2023 figures is scheduled for 27th of July 2024.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Aggregated tables online



Annexes:
Publications online
10.3. Dissemination format - online database

No online database
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Access to microdata is possible (Cf. in annex the procedure). 



Annexes:
Microdata for research
10.5. Dissemination format - other

Data for children under 15 years and information about NUTS1 (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) are available nationally
10.6. Documentation on methodology

Documentation on metadata is available on our website: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/households/survey-holidays-and-travels#documents



Annexes:
Documentation
10.7. Quality management - documentation

A yearly exercise for quality indicators is conducted by Statistics Belgium (not publicly available).


11. Quality management Top
11.1. Quality assurance

An independent service controls and validates the data before sending them to Eurostat.

Quality Indicators are calculated.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
11.2.1 Main strengths

It is the only source of information about tourism concerning the whole Belgian population. Data are comparable through European countries.

The response rate is also much higher starting in 2017 than it was in the past.
11.2.2 Main weaknesses

It is not a source of precise information on rather unfrequent destinations.
11.2.3 Quality improvements compared with previous reference year

Data are in line with the Methodological manual for tourism statistics.

A new methodology has been implemented in 2017, the response-rates have significatively improved since this.

Data quality is the same for these last 6 years.


12. Relevance Top
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
12.1.1 European level

Cf Annex
12.1.2 Main users on a national level

Most user needs are fulfilled. Users' requests can usually be answered. Only data at NUTS2 or NUTS3 level can't be delivered.


Annexes:
Regulation 692/2011
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Satisfied in general. 
12.3. Completeness
12.3.1 Completeness

Compliant with the requirements of Regulation on tourism statistics 692/2011, Delegated Regulation 2019/1681, as well as recommendations laid down in the Methodological manual for tourism statistics.
12.3.2 If not, please specify why and list deviations from Reg.


13. Accuracy Top
13.1. Accuracy - overall

The new methodology implemented in 2017 shows stable and better results.
13.2. Sampling error

13.2.1 Sampling errors - indicators

Information on Sampling errors may also be provided in the attached file.  Estimated value Coefficient of variation
13.2.1.1 Participation in tourism for personal purposes: number of residents, aged 15 or over, having made at least 1 trip of at least 1 overnight stay (all age groups)

5,700,642

0.0108
13.2.1.2 Participation in tourism for personal purposes: number of residents, aged 65 or over, having made at least 1 trip of at least 1 overnight stay

837,925

0.0307
13.2.1.3 Tourism trips - Total number of trips

18,120,481

0.0041
13.2.1.4 Domestic trips

4,622,249

0.0081
13.2.1.5 Outbound trips

13,498,237

0.0046
13.2.1.6 Private/Personal trips

16,934,371

0.0042
13.2.1.7 Professional/business trips

1,186,115

0.0135
13.2.1.8 Domestic trips spent at rented accommodation

3,431,542

0.0091
13.2.1.9 Domestic trips spent at non-rented accommodation

1,190,707

0.0165
13.2.1.10 Tourism trips - Total expenditure excluding durables and valuable goods

11,025,104,276

0.0093
13.2.1.11 Expenditure on accommodation

4,526,456,787

0.0156


13.2.2 Additional comments on sampling error





 
13.3. Non-sampling error

13.3.1 Coverage errors

13.3.1.1 Over-coverage

Individuals who have left the country and are still registered
13.3.1.2 Under-coverage

Collective households, households with reference person younger than 18 or older than 85 are excluded from the sampling frame


13.3.2 Unit non-response for TRIPS dataset

  Unit non-response
13.3.2.1 Number of ineligible units/ elements

0
13.3.2.2 Number of eligible units/elements

27314
13.3.2.3 Number of non-contacts

not available
13.3.2.4 Number of refusals

not available
13.3.2.5 Number of rejected questionnaires

not available
13.3.2.6 Number of other types of non-response

not available
13.3.2.7 Total non-response (= sum of 13.3.2.3 to 13.3.2.6)

19379


13.3.3 Unit non-response rate

13.3.3.1 Unit non-response rate for TRIPS dataset (= 13.3.2.7 divided by 13.3.2.2)

70.9%
13.3.3.2 Unit non-response rate for PARTIC dataset

53.8 % (% of households that answers at least one additional survey on participation after the initial travel survey)
13.3.3.3 Unit non-response rate for SDVOUT dataset

70.9%
13.3.3.4 Methods used for dealing with/minimising unit non-response

Reminder letters, reminder by phone, in order to increase the response rate.


Imputation was made ​​by the method of the median.

In order to increase the response rate, which is too low for these travel surveys, several statistical techniques were used: increasing the size of the sample, phone call, email reminder, currently, CAWI, reducing the number of questions asked, improvements in the questions, confidentiality assured, etc.


13.3.4 Item non-response

13.3.4.1 Item non-response

Variables related to expenses
13.3.4.2 Methods used for dealing with/minimising item non-response

Imputation techniques used according to the method, by median.
Item-level non-responses were compared between groups for overall rates, and differential response rates by demographics, item position, item format.


13.3.5 Additional comments on non-sampling error 

Type of unit non response mostly not available because of the survey mode (postal survey)


(in case of second survey please briefly describe 13.3.1-13.3.4 here)


14. Timeliness and punctuality Top
14.1. Timeliness
14.1.1 Participation in tourism

183
14.1.2 Tourism trips

183
14.1.3 Same-day visits (outbound)

183
14.2. Punctuality
14.2.1 Participation in tourism

-2
14.2.2 Tourism trips

-3
14.2.3 Same-day visits (outbound)

-2


15. Coherence and comparability Top
15.1. Comparability - geographical

Data are geographically comparable. The data are collected in the same manner in the 3 regions of the country. Due to low response rate, the data for the Brussels Region are usually less reliable
15.2. Comparability - over time
15.2.1 Participation in tourism

Data are comparable from 1997 onwards.
15.2.2 Tourism trips

Data are comparable from 1997 onwards.
15.2.3 Same-day visits (outbound)

Data are comparable from 1997 onwards.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain

No comparison is done with accommodation statistics yet. Data on travels by agencies are available from the business Association.
15.4. Coherence - internal

Not applicable


16. Cost and Burden Top
Restricted from publication


17. Data revision Top
17.1. Data revision - policy

No specific policy.
17.2. Data revision - practice

No preliminary data was published. 


18. Statistical processing Top
18.1. Source data

18.1.1. Source data

18.1.1.1 Source data

Survey carried out by Statistics Belgium
18.1.1.2 Name of data collection in national language

Reisonderzoek / Enquête voyages.
18.1.1.3 Name of data collection in English

Travel survey
18.1.1.4 Survey vehicle Stand-alone survey
18.1.1.5 If "Embedded in another survey", please indicate which other survey. In case both options were ticked, please describe here separately the approach for PARTIC, TRIPS, SDVOUT


18.1.2. Population frame

18.1.2.1 Population frame Population register
18.1.2.2 Update of population frame Other frequency
18.1.2.3 If other frequency or additional comments, please specify

Updated continuously

Population Register: Statistics Belgium manages the statistics output. The population Register comes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
18.1.2.4 Coverage errors of population frame

The Population Register only registers the official population of the country.


18.1.3. Gross sample size (year, individuals)

18.1.3.1 Gross sample size for trips (= 13.3.2.1 + 13.3.2.2)

27.311
18.1.3.2 Gross sample size for participation in tourism

13.319
18.1.3.3 Gross sample size for (outbound) same-day visits

27.311
18.1.3.4 Additional comments


18.1.4. Net sample size (year, individuals)

18.1.4.1 Net sample size for trips (= 13.3.2.2 – 13.3.2.7)

8.489
18.1.4.2 Net sample size for participation in tourism

6.601
18.1.4.3 Net sample size for (outbound) same-day visits

8.489
18.1.4.4 Additional comments


18.1.5. Sampling design

18.1.5.1 Sampling design Stratified sampling
Random sampling
18.1.5.2 If other or additional comments (also when more than one options is chosen in 18.1.5.1), please specify. Links to national methodology documentation can also be inserted here.

Stratified sample: Households are selected by a stratified random sample.　

The sampling strata is determined by the following variables:　

Region of resident (NUTS-1) *　

Reference person's age class (18-24; 25-39; 40-54; 55-64; 65+)　

Household fiscal income class (5 quintiles + 1 strata for unknown fiscal income) with the following exception: for the first reference person's age class (18-24), there is no subdivision by fiscal income.

* To ensure homogeneous strata, we decided to separate Flemish Brabant (from Flemish region) and Walloon Flemish (from Walloon region) and to group them into one fictive region. So we have 4 regions for the stratification.


18.1.6. Second survey or source

18.2. Frequency of data collection
18.2.1 Frequency of data collection Quarterly
18.2.2 Other frequency or additional comments
18.3. Data collection

18.3.1. Type of survey

Household survey


18.3.2. Data collection methods

18.3.2.1 Data collection methods Self-administered paper questionnaire (postal survey, pen-and-paper without interviewer)
CAWI (computer-assisted web interview)
18.3.2.2 If other or additional comments, please specify. In case a combination of data collection methods is used, please give an indication of the importance of the different methods (in terms of number of respondents) 

73.7% CAWI - 26.3% paper questionnaire
18.3.2.3 Questionnaire in national language (Annex/Link)

Cf. annexes
18.3.2.4 Questionnaire in English (Annex/Link)

Not available
18.3.2.5 Interviewer instructions in English (Annex/Link)


18.3.3. Proxy interviews

18.3.3.1 Proxy interviews Never
18.3.3.2 If "Allowed" or "Only in exceptional cases", please indicate for which variables in particular proxy interviews were used (it not all questions); If 4. "Not applicable", please explain why.


18.3.4. Average interview time (The average interview time is X minutes.)

18.3.4.1 Average interview time

Not available
18.3.4.2 Average interview time for respondents that reported trips

Not available


18.3.5 Second survey or source


Annexes:
Dutch questionnaire
French questionnaire
18.4. Data validation
18.4.1 Data validation

A first coherence check is performed at the encoding. In addition, other implausible data are detected automatically during more precise subsequent checks and are analyzed finely, in order to be deleted, corrected or saved. In case of deletion, an imputation is performed as for each missing data. Internal control is carried out on the coherence of results, in particular with previous years.
18.4.2 Second survey or source (In case a second survey or source is used for collecting data on participation, trips or same-day visits, please briefly describe 18.4.1 here in relation to those surveys/sources)
18.5. Data compilation
18.5.1 Data compilation

Missing and implausible responses are replaced by imputations taking into account other information about the individual and his trip.

Calibration is calculated in order to make the sample representative of the reference population.
18.5.2 Second survey or source (In case a second survey or source is used for collecting data on participation, trips or same-day visits, please briefly describe 18.5.1 here in relation to those surveys/sources)
18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable.


19. Comment Top

.


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top