In order to prevent massive tourist crowds from returning to Amsterdam after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dutch capital’s visitor economy needs to be completely restructured in the coming years, according to Amsterdam & Partners, the former agency. of city marketing. The agency suggests implementing a tax on day trippers, a discounted pass for residents and a total ban on vacation rentals like Airbnb, reports Het Parool.
Amsterdam & Partners spoke with residents, entrepreneurs and the cultural sector to develop their plans to ensure that more people benefit from tourism in the city and that tourists cause less inconvenience to locals by 2025. experience firsthand what we miss because of the absence of visitors, but also how nice it is to be a customer, a guest or a visitor in our own city ”, director Geerte Udo told Het Parool .
Currently, most of the city tax in Amsterdam is paid by hotel guests who stay overnight in the city. Tour guides and companies also pay a small tourist tax, but otherwise people who only visit for the day are not taxed. Amsterdam & Partners wants to change this. “On average, half of tourists are day visitors. We don’t think it’s acceptable that the pressure is now almost entirely on hotels and shipping companies,” Udo said. “That doesn’t mean you have to charge a toll on everyone who comes from outside, but our advice is to investigate whether a tourist tax can have a guiding or discouraging effect.”
The money collected through this tax can help residents benefit more from the wealth that tourism brings to the city. This can be done through a resident pass, which can be used to get discounts and extras at museums and shops. “Attract locals to use the city more and take advantage of the huge offer, in this way entrepreneurs and culture also become less dependent on visitors.”
Amsterdam & Partners also wants to redesign the Red Light District, in order to discourage a massive influx of visitors coming to Amsterdam just for this offer. And an outright ban on renting residences to tourists as soon as possible. “Locals and entrepreneurs agree on this,” Udo told the newspaper.
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