Amsterdam aims to deter "nuisance" British guests

The city of Amsterdam has begun a campaign aimed at discouraging problematic visitors.

 

 

The goal of the initiative is to reduce the number of people who go to the city for the express purpose of indulging in intoxicating substances, illegal narcotics, or sexual activity.

British tourists, who have a reputation for being unruly while in Amsterdam, are the main target audience. The project follows a number of actions already implemented by the local authorities in order to reduce misbehavior.

The new tourism campaign was launched in an attempt for the city to shed its image as a party and red-light district destination, as the city council members believe the red light area is luring undesired and offensive tourists.

An official "discouragement campaign" against rude foreign tourists will start in the spring of 2023. The campaign's goal is to deter those who are not welcome from coming. Sofyan Mbarki, the city's deputy mayor in charge of the tourist initiatives, urged residents to get involved immediately if they care about the cause. In his opinion, overcrowding and noise pollution could also be avoided if measures are taken, such as restraining the reckless expansion of the city.

It is well-known that brothels and sex workers in Amsterdam's red light district are legal. However, locals complain that drunken visitors contribute to a hostile environment. Moreover, parties at the city’s cannabis cafes sometimes end up becoming violent.

Initially, the new campaign will target British tourists. Assuming the campaign is successful, it will also be aimed at other foreign tourists. New regulations will also be implemented, including a prohibition on cannabis use in public spaces and a restricted number of river trips. According to the municipal county, as many as one hundred brothel windows might be moved from the downtown area of the city.

Furthermore, the government has a long-term strategy to lower annual visitor numbers to below 10 million overnight visits. Airbnb rentals will be limited as part of this effort.

The plan is to improve the city's image so that visitors may primarily enjoy its historic landmarks and charming waterways.

 

Source: euronews.com