Amsterdam’s popularity is becoming a major hindrance to the local population with the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, considering banning tourists from purchasing cannabis products within the city.
Over 17 million tourists hail down on the famous and infamous city to enjoy much of it’s entertainment, whether they be fun family activities, or ones that are more enjoyed in the depths of a deep darkness.
That’s about 16 times the local population, causing much disruption to locals. Halsema’s plan to reduce the tourism chaos involves reducing the attraction of readily available drugs to tourists.
The proposals come after a recent study conducted by the Research, Information, and Statistics Office in Amsterdam.
100 visitors aged between 18 and 35 were included in the study, and revealed the majority of them said Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops played an important role in their choice to visit the city.
34% said they’d visit less if a ban on cannabis products for them was introduced in Amsterdam. Although 22% also said they’d simply let someone else go and buy it for them, and another 18% said they’d just find another way to buy it.
These new proposals also come after an announcement last week will see that group tours through Amsterdam’s famous red light district will be outright banned from April 1st.
On top of that, all other guided tours will now require a permit.
Victor Everhardt, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, had the following to say regarding the red light district tour ban:
[it is…] disrespectful to treat sex workers as a tourist attraction.
Lastly, tour groups would no longer be allowed to be more than 15 people in size, and any group stopping in busy public areas face a €190 ($322).
It seems like they’re finally putting their foot own on the infamous Asian tour groups fitting as many people as possible into their crowded bus tours.
