Ypres (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ypres, led by tourism head Diego Desmadryl, teams up with Toran (Matthias Decleer) to offer €475–€850 helicopter tours over WWI battlefields, boosting tourism with contests and promotions.
As VRT News reported, war tourists exploring the former World War I front in Belgium now have a new way to experience the historic landscape: via helicopter. Ypres is now actively supporting new helicopter tours over the First World War battlefields, viewing them as a valuable addition to the region’s tourism. According to Diego Desmadryl, the tourism leader, these tours provide a spectacular and unique way to explore the history and landscape of Ypres and its surroundings.
He mentioned that these flights are expected to attract more tourists, boosting the local economy and reinforcing Ypres’s position as a hub for Great War history enthusiasts. The city plans to promote the helicopter flights, integrating them into broader tourism campaigns to encourage both locals and international visitors to experience the aerial tours.
How are Ypres & Toran transforming WWI tourism with €475 flights?
Ypres is teaming up with Toran to provide free helicopter flights, which will be given away as prizes. The city plans to use these flights in various contests and promotions to create excitement around the new attraction. One of the first initiatives involves a raffle where three helicopter flights will be awarded to those who subscribe to the Tourism Ypres newsletter.
Officials mentioned that this approach not only promotes the helicopter tours but also boosts engagement with the city’s tourism channels. It ensures that more people are informed about events, attractions, and historical offerings in the Ypres area.
The Wevelgem-based helicopter company, Toran, led by Matthias Decleer, has launched aerial tours over the battlefields. This offers visitors, especially international travellers like Americans, a perspective that goes beyond ground tours. From the air, passengers can see vast mine craters, the solemn rows of white gravestones in war cemeteries, the scars left by trenches, and the memorials scattered across the landscape.
“The idea came about after American tourists requested such a flight,”
Says manager Matthias Decleer.
Flights depart from Wevelgem Airport. Passengers can decide which sites they want to focus on during their trip. Whether they want to circle the Ypres Salient, the site of the Battle of Passchendaele, or visit the iconic Menin Gate from above.
The flights, operated by Toran, start at €475 for a 30-minute ride with up to 3 passengers. An hour-long tour costs nearly €850. Despite the price, Toran says these flights are accessible to more than just the very wealthy. He mentioned that this experience is about more than just transportation; it’s about fulfilling dreams, seeing the Western Front from a breathtaking angle.
