Wallonia

Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia stand at WTM 2013

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• published: 14 Nov 2013
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In 2013 French-speaking Belgium for the first time had a separate stand at WTM. It was joined by 20 different attractions, local tourist offices and partners. In 2014 the destination will be marking the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. While the town of Liege was the first in Belgium to be attacked, the town of Mons saw the very first battle between the British and the German forces. The Mons Region Tourist Board was providing further information about planned commemorations there, but also on its UNESCO sites, and on Mons 2015, when it will be European Capital of Culture. The town of Comines-Warneton was also presenting its new attraction Plugstreet Experience 14-18, a WW1 interpretation centre which opened on 9 November 2013 2014 will also see the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Brussels, and the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. A new museum dedicated to WW2 will be opening in Bastogne in spring 2014 and the first map of the Battle of the Bulge is being produced by the Belgian Luxembourg and Ardennes Tourist Board who was presenting its new 2014 brochure with all the must-see attractions including the discovery trail for the famous Orval Trappist beer. Looking beyond, 2015 will commemorate 200 years since Wellington's victory over Napoleon at The Battle of Waterloo. A memorial and a great re-enactment will be the opportunity to discover the best preserved battlefield in Europe. Further information was available on the stand from the Waterloo Tourist Office. The Caves of Han, among the most spectacular in Belgium were also represented. They will be seeing the addition of a stunning new chamber, and a new state-of-the-art lighting system in th near future as well as new walking trails. The Youth Hostels in Belgium were on hand to explain the significant renovation work that has been undertaken to make their hostels some of the greenest in Belgium with five Youth Hostels already certified Green Key in Brussels and Wallonia. A number of Brussels Museums also attended WTM including the Royal Museums of Art & History, the Musical Instruments Museum, the Royal Museums of Natural Sciences and the Royal Museums of Fine arts of Belgium which will see the opening in December 2013 of a new museum entirely dedicated to the 19th century. The Atomium and Mini Europe in Brussels, and the Eurospace Center in Wallonia were also exhibiting as was Brussels Guided Tours, the Crowne Plaza Liege, Floreal la Roche holidays, The Hotel Spa Balmoral, Ibis Hotels Belgium and the Province of Namur- land of the Valleys- and the Province of Liège. And of course our famous Belgian bar, sponsored by Chez Léon de Bruxelles, was still as popular as ever!!