Amsterdam targets cruise cutbacks to manage over-tourism

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Amsterdam has embarked on an ambitious plan to significantly reduce the influx of river boat cruises as part of a broader initiative aimed at curbing over-tourism in the city. In the previous year, around 2,300 cruise ships docked along the city’s waterfront, but by 2028, the municipality aims to slash this figure to just 1,150. This reduction is anticipated to decrease tourist numbers by 271,000 annually, potentially impacting the regional economy by approximately €73.5 million each year.

Hester van Buren, the city’s finance chief, highlighted the severe congestion caused by the river cruises, especially during the spring bulb season when around 1,000 river boats anchor in the capital. She mentioned the city’s commitment to maintaining tourist numbers below 20 million per year. Van Buren, during the presentation of the plans, acknowledged that these measures alone would not resolve the issue of excessive tourism but emphasized that the goal was not to segregate tourists into desirable and undesirable categories. Instead, the focus is on the overall reduction of tourist numbers to alleviate issues such as overcrowding and traffic congestion caused by coaches parked on city pavements.

Research conducted for the city also indicates that this measure will result in nearly 200,000 fewer overnight stays in local hotels and a reduction of 64,400 kilometers in coach travel. Despite the potential benefits, hoteliers have expressed concerns over these changes. Remco Groenhuijzen, general manager of the Movenpick hotel in the city center, pointed out that while they typically don’t rely on bus tours, river cruises are integral to their business. He stressed that the policy might be symbolic and insufficient to address the broader challenges, indicating that hotels would need to seek alternative sources of guests to compensate for the lost business.

Furthermore, Amsterdam has launched the second phase of its “stay away” campaign, aimed at reducing the number of budget tourists who visit the city for its cannabis culture and nightlife. The city has also increased tourist taxes, among the highest globally, and is conducting research to potentially reduce the number of ocean-going cruises, with findings expected to be published before the summer.

Van Buren noted that over-tourism is a global issue and acknowledged that tourists themselves are often displeased by overcrowded destinations. However, she stated that fencing off Amsterdam is not a viable solution, underscoring the need for strategic and manageable approaches to tourism that ensure the city remains welcoming yet sustainable.

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