Amsterdam is a small city with narrow thoroughfares and limited resources.
Now the Dutch city is cracking down further on overtourism.
Amsterdam authorities are planning to introduce new tourism measures which will make the city one of the toughest in Europe in managing tourism amid a growing hostility towards tourists, news hub Travel Mole reports.
Among the changes is a gradual increase in its tourist tax to 20% by the end of the decade, as city leaders seek to curb overtourism and improve the quality of life for residents.
The Dutch citg already charges one of the highest visitor taxes in Europe. Overnight visitors currently pay a tourist tax equivalent to 12% of their accommodation cost, while day visitors arriving by cruise ship pay a separate fee fixed at €15 per day.
Under proposals unveiled by the city’s new coalition government, the overnight tourist tax would rise to 16% next year before increasing by one percentage point annually until it reaches 20% in 2030.
City officials say the higher levy is designed to ensure visitors contribute more fairly to the costs associated with maintaining one of Europe’s most-visited destinations.
Amsterdam welcomed 9.5 millions guests last year. That makes tourism one of the city’s most important economic drivers but local authorities say the growing number of visitors has also placed mounting pressure on public spaces, municipal services, neighborhoods, and infrastructure.
According to the coalition agreement, tourism remains vital to the city’s economy, but the associated costs of managing large visitor numbers have become increasingly significant.
The proposed tax increase forms part of a much broader tourism management strategy designed to create what city leaders describe as a more balanced visitor economy.
Another proposal would see increases to Amsterdam’s entertainment levy, which currently applies to activities such as canal boat tours, canoe rentals, and other recreational services operating on the city’s famous waterways.
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