Amsterdam has a new solution for overtourism
The IndependentSign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We’re an open, tolerant city,” tourism chief Geerte Udo told Condé Nast Traveler. “How can you ever imagine us saying ‘You’re not welcome here!’?” Udo and the i amsterdam team, which oversees the city’s tourism, have spent the last two years trying to subtly move tourists away from the most popular attractions, such as the Red Light District and Museum Quarter. They used the data stored on the chip inside Amsterdam’s City Card, which gives access to various attractions and free public transport, to analyse tourist behaviour and devise ways of changing it to ease congestion. “Everybody comes to the city and goes to the Van Gogh Museum in the morning, and a canal boat in the afternoon.” The team then attempted to switch up this pattern, for example by suggesting people take a boat ride in the morning to avoid the crowds when they bought their City Card.
History of this topic
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