The times of sitting, smoking, and watching the world go by from a cafe in Amsterdam could be a distant memory, with environmentalist mayor Femke Halsema hoping to ban “drug-tourism”.
Overseas visitors to Amsterdam could face a being banned from the city’s cannabis coffee shops in a bid to put an end to “soft drug tourism”.
It’s no secret that police, locals, and the city’s first female mayor, Femke Halsema, are fed up with tourists purely visiting the destination to get high.
According to Forbes, a total of 46 million people visited the Netherlands in 2019, with most coming to Amsterdam and many buying and smoking cannabis at the marijuana cafes.
The new plan, which is expected to be passed, will begin at some point next year and will only allow permit marijuana product sales to Dutch nationals and residents of the Netherlands.
READ: MOVE OVER TOILET PAPER: Shoppers Panic Buy Weed In The Netherlands
More than sex & drugs
In January 2020, Amsterdam banned guided tours of the city’s Red Light District and now, if the city puts a stop to tourism purchasing marijuana, it’ll be another big step closer to eradicating its reputation as a sex and drug destination.
“Amsterdam is an international city and we want to welcome tourists, but we would like tourists who come for the wealth of the city, for its beauty, for its cultural institutions,” Mayor Halsema told Dutch public television.
Like other popular European destinations, such as Rome, Barcelona, and Venice, Amsterdam has also taken several steps to reduce overcrowding and annoyance caused by over-tourism in the city centre.
This has been done by reducing the number of shops targeting overseas travellers, clamping down on Airbnb, halting new hotel developments, and increasing taxes.
Amsterdam is a colourful destination with stunning scenery, mouthwatering cuisine, fascinating history and an array of museums and galleries – and the city hopes to attract travellers that are interested in exploring these options.
Amsterdam isn’t the only destination hoping to appeal to a new type of traveller post-COVID-19. Thailand and New Zealand have also been reported to be reevaluating their appeal moving forwards.
What do you think about the ban on bud? Do you think it will stop travellers for visiting Amsterdam? Let us know – email editor@karryon.com