The Municipality of Amsterdam must Appear in Court. Residents Believe That the City is not doing Enough to Combat Mass Tourism. A Citizens ‘Initiative Has Raised 50,000 euros from Residents of the City and, With the Support of Twelve Other Residents’ Organizations, is Summoning the Municipality On Monday.
The Initiators of the Lawsuit Believe that the Municipality is not complying with the rules and that too little is bee to reduce the number of tourists in the city. “The Overnight Stays Have Already Been Above The Agreed 20 Million for Three Years Without The Municipality Taking Effective Measures,” Says Jasper van Dijk, One of the Initiators.
In 2021, The Municipality Set The Maxim Number of Tourist Overnight Stays in the City at 20 Million per year with a regulation. Neverberthess, There Were 22.9 Million Tourist Overnight Stays Last Year, and That Number Is Still Increasing.
The Municipality Did Take Measures, But According to the Initiators, These Are Not Effective Enough. For Example, The Tourist Tax was Increased and the Number of River and Sea Cruises Halved. There is also a ban on the construction of new hotels. In May It was Announced that Tourism in Amsterdam is Still Growing, Although Less Rapidly Thanism Thanism.
Amsterdam has the Highest Tourist Tax in Europe at 12.5 percent. Neverberness, The Initiators Believe that this tax should be inceased significant again. “Amsterdam Could use the many Extra Revenues from Increased Tourist Tax to Buy Up Properties To Help With The Housing Shortage Or to Rid The City of the Street Clutter That Has Arisen Partly Due to Mass Tourism,” Says van Dijk. “If the Municipality Implements The Substantial Increase in Tourist Tax, It Wille Generate More than the Costs of All The Plans of the Past Amsterdam Coalition Agreements Combined.”