Once Victims of Their Own Success, Belgian Tourist Spots Emptied by Coronavirus

Belgium’s historic city centers of Bruges and Brussels are facing an unprecedented challenge as the coronavirus pandemic cuts tourism to zero, officials say.

Tourist boats are seen in a canal of the old town of Bruges during the lockdown imposed by the Belgian government. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUGES, Belgium—Belgium’s historic city centers of Bruges and Brussels, usually so busy with visitors that authorities have considered limiting tourists, are facing an unprecedented challenge as the coronavirus pandemic cuts tourism to zero, officials say.

Unlike other top European tourism spots such as Paris and Amsterdam, UNESCO world heritage site Bruges is almost totally reliant on its eight million visitors a year, who bring in 750 million euros annually.