Amsterdam’s local government targets budget tourism with new tax regulations in order to curb problems associated with the sector while increasing revenue inside the city.
According to recent estimates, around 17 million people visited Amsterdam during 2016. Even when this figure is divided over months, or even weeks, it still eclipses the city’s residential population which reaches to approximately 850,000 people. Amsterdam’s municipal government believes that over the next few years, the number of tourists visiting the city will continue to grow exponentially and may even arrive at 23 million within a decade.
Sources from The Guardian claim that over one quarter of these tourists stay in budget accommodation and therefore only contribute a marginal amount to the city’s economy, as these businesses tend to create considerably less money than bigger establishments. In order to generate more revenue from this type of tourism, the council plans to hike up accommodation taxes from 5% to 6% and may even create an additional cover charge that could cost guests up to €10 per night.
While higher spenders probably won’t be deterred by these prices, travellers working on a budget may think twice about staying in Amsterdam. In fact, Amsterdam’s finance councillor Udo Kock told Dutch newspaper het Parool that these plans are specifically designed to disproportionately effect low-cost tourism, as the price of budget accommodation would increase massively when compared to more expensive options.
These changes are also intended to decrease the number of people staying in overcrowded areas like the Red Light District, and Kock believes that travellers may even start to look for accommodation in less expensive cities elsewhere in the Netherlands, but nonetheless still visit Amsterdam during their time abroad.
Although these plans aren’t finalised, the council will likely start to implement regulations of this kind by 2019.
About the author
Tom Coggins writes about culture and travel. He'd really like to own a dog someday.
Read Next
The Best Things to Do When You're High in Amsterdam
The Best Budget Ski Resorts Across Europe
The Most Epic Cliffs In The World
The 11 Best European Destinations for a November Adventure
The Best Museums to Visit in Rotterdam
The 15 Best Cities in the World for Art
The Best Things To See And Do In Amsterdam-Noord
The Best and Cheapest Winter Sun Destinations in Europe
The 11 Best and Cheapest European Cities to Visit This Autumn
These Countries Have the Best and Worst Lovers in the World
36 Natural Wonders in Europe That Will Take Your Breath Away
The Most Beautiful Churches In Amsterdam
Winter Sale
Save up to $862 on our trips! Book now and secure your adventure!
