The Netherlands' Amsterdam will no longer allow new hotel buildings to be built as part of its fight against mass tourism, the local government said on Wednesday. A new hotel in Amsterdam can only be built if another hotel closes, if the number of sleeping places doesn't increase, and if the new hotel will be better, for example more sustainable.
No, I get the point. I also realize that overtourisn is bad, by definition. Tourism is not inherently bad, though.
By artificially worsening tourism like this, it will lead to less tourists, butbalsona poorer experience for other tourists. This will lead to a reduction in investment in infrastructure, or amenities, like the Rijksmuseum. Locals benefit from the money tourists bring in more ways than just being a business that is tourist facing.
Yes, the hotels can renovate. But only to reduce capacity. The reason for hotels to renovate is competition or increase capacity. Without either, why bother. It will be less hassle and more profitable not to renovate. That’s my issue. Its inventivising decrepid hotels and bad infrastructure.
Tourism broadens the mind. We should look at more sustainable tourism and using tourism money as a tool to rejuvenate, rather than impinge.
Airbnbs often get blamed, but if hotels were sufficient and reasonable, airbnb becomes a poor proposition with its silly rules and extra hassle. We should appropriately tax and regulate what is now unregulated. Compact Eco friendly hotels in less congested areas encourages responsible tourism.
Its like bike culture, there. If you want people to move from cars, you don’t let the roads deteriorate to dangerous levels. You ensure there is alternative infrastructure like public transport and bicycle lanes.