Why does Amsterdam no longer want tourists?

Amsterdam, a city known for its tolerance, narrow houses and wide canals, is radically changing its attitude towards the tourists who visit the city every year with enthusiasm, writes CNN.

The reason is very simple - the citizens of the Netherlands are afraid that their capital will turn into Venice.

Frustrated Amsterdam locals have complained for some time about the excessive number of tourists and fear that their growing numbers could destroy the soul of this vibrant cosmopolitan city.

"We are under a lot of pressure," said architect Ellen van Loon. "We don't want to turn into Venice. Tourists love our city too much and visit us too much."

Although Van Loon acknowledges the positive aspects of tourism, such as the number that fills the coffers, he also understands the locals who are afraid of losing the indigenous feel of their hometown.

Like Venice, Amsterdam has become a symbol for the phenomenon of over-tourism which is closely related to the increasingly affordable price of plane tickets. While some other cities are just starting to come to grips with this kind of problem, Amsterdam has simply said enough is enough.

Namely, the ten-year increase in the number of visitors is predicted for that city, from 18 million in 2018 to 42 million in 2030, which is 50 times higher than the current number of permanent residents.

Dutch officials therefore recently boldly decided to stop advertising their country as a tourist destination. They also implemented some provisions intended to deter tourists, limiting their entertainment venues or accommodation capacity.

The city authorities of Amsterdam have also announced new taxes on tourist overnight stays, and the new revenues from tourism will be directed to the maintenance of the city.

Amsterdam already charges a seven percent tax on hotel bills, and in mid-May the city leaders announced a new levy according to which hotel guests will pay an additional three euros per night in the future to the city coffers.

The association of Dutch hotels and restaurants, Koninklijke Horeca, criticized the announcement of the new levies, saying that Amsterdam already has the highest tourist taxes among popular European destinations.

Source: Index.hr