Amsterdam wants to take a series of measures to curb nightlife tourism. In the proposed reforms, foreign tourists who only come to the city for alcohol, drugs and sex ought to be discouraged as much as possible.
According to the Brussels Times, part of the efforts include a digital “discouragement campaign” for foreign tourists who only come to Amsterdam for “alcohol, drugs and sex.” The campaign would be primarily aimed at British tourists, but would also be extended to other geographies.
Alderman of Economic Affairs Sofyan Mbarki presented plans to curb nightlife tourism. One of his goals is to have the catering establishments and brothels in the “Red Light District” to close earlier.
After a slow period during the pandemic, nightlife tourism in Amsterdam has shown a dramatic upward trend. This summer, more tourists stayed overnight in the Netherlands than in 2019, Amsterdam being the main destination. There is a high probability that 18 million overnight stays in Amsterdam will be reached this year.
Amsterdam is a metropolis and that includes bustle and liveliness, but we must now choose to limit it instead of irresponsible growth.
Sofyan Mbarki, Alderman of Economic Affairs
City residents have been complaining for years about the nuisance caused by the growing number of tourists. The Amsterdam City Council had determined that additional measures should be taken if the number of overnight stays per year exceeded 18 million.
Authorities in Amsterdam also want to discourage nuisance bachelor parties and organized pub crawls. They are also looking at limiting the number of river cruises on its canals. According to the Brussels Times, there would also be a ban on smoking joints in some parts of the city.
