A TOURIST hotspot, which hundreds of thousands of Brits visit every year, will start charging holidaymakers even more for overnight stays.
Amsterdam wants to increase the tax it imposes on its tourists.
According to Dutch News, the proposed plans will see the tax on overnight stays rise to 12.5 per cent on the cost of the hotel room.
For example, holidaymakers visiting Amsterdam would pay a €12.50 (£10.84) tax on a €100 (£86.74) hotel room.
Meanwhile, cruise ship passengers would pay €11 (£9.54) per person – an increase of €3 (£2.60) on the previous tourist tax.
The tax rise has been proposed in a bid to counteract overtourism in the capital.
Read More on Travel
PLANE WRONG
Most annoying air travel behaviour revealed – and Gen Z are the worst offenders
TIPPED OFF
I tested the top TikTok travel hacks – these are the ones that do & don't work
The city’s finance chief, Hester van Buren told Dutch News: "This is the fourth highest in the world."
She added: "It is a balancing act, and an estimate. Of course, it would be good if the high tax helped against over-tourism, but then you would also bring in less money.
"We also have to deal with day trippers. Of course, you can’t put up turnstiles so no one can get into the city, but we are going to look at ways of making day visitors pay some sort of city tax."
While it remains unclear as to when the tax hike will be introduced, it is expected to raise €65 million for the city.
Most read in News Travel
ISLE GO
Swap Santorini for this lesser-known Greek island – it’s cheaper & 22C in autumn
N-ICE IDEA
I’m a psychologist – the UK destination to visit for your health in winter
AIM HIGH
Ryanair launches budget flights to seven new holiday destinations
PENNE PINCHERS
I bought a four-storey house in Italy for the price of a Mars Bar
Earlier this year, Amsterdam introduced its "stay away" campaign, and urged tourists to consider going elsewhere if they're only planning to "let loose".
And the Dutch capital isn't the only holiday hotspot that's introducing new measures to curb the impact of overtourism.
From next year, Venice will trial a fee, which will see day-trippers paying €5 (£4.35) to visit the historical Italian centre.
Meanwhile, officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips.
And it isn't just holiday hotspots in Europe that have been discussing potential charges, destinations across the UK are also set to introduce new fees too.
Manchester tourists spending the night in the city will have to pay £1 a night, per room, as part of the new scheme.
And, St Ives in Cornwall is considering a tourist tax too.
Source: Read Full Article