May 29, 2024
Two of the great European destinations have decided they could use a little less business if it means less pollution, over-crowding and noise. Undoubtedly this comes from having been must-sees on the Grand Tour for a century and a seemingly-endless flow of tourists, post-pandemic, coming from all over the world.
Amsterdam, known as the “Venice of the North” (both cities have extensive canal systems), got over 19 million tourists in 2023. This was for a city of 850,000 inhabitants. And visitors’ numbers are increasing steadily. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema expects 29 million in 2025. Venice, which gets an average of 20 million visitors per year, has an even smaller population of 257,777 inhabitants. (Note: The Main Island, where most of Venice’s main attractions are located, saw its native population drop to below 50,000 last year.)
Both cities, along with fellow “hot spot” Barcelona, have taken steps recently to cut down on the number of visitors:
- In a May 24 letter to parliament, Dutch infrastructure minister Mark Harbers proposed limiting the number of night flights in Amsterdam in 2025 to 27,000 from 32,000 and banning the loudest aircraft, such as the Boeing 747-400, from operating between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The move, in response to complaints about noise from nearby residents, follows a previous attempt last year by the Dutch government to cut capacity at Schiphol by 20%. After much international scrutiny, the controversial plan was eventually dropped last November.
- Venice is trying a tax on tourists who make day trips to the city. The entry tax will be in effect on select days thru July 14. Day-trippers will have to pay five euros (about $5.40) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The city will spend 2024 collecting data about the trial run and is expected to roll out a permanent solution in 2025.
- Last year, Barcelona banned cruise ships from docking near its city center, requiring them instead to dock at the Moll Adossat pier south of the city, a shuttle bus ride away. The pier is currently used by the industry’s largest cruise ships, while smaller ships have been using the World Trade Center and Muelle Barcelona Norte terminals, which are a short walk from the city center. In addition, the number of cruise ships that can dock at Barcelona’s ports will be capped at seven ships per day, down from 10.
What can travelers do to help?
Well if you are a leisure traveler, go someplace else for vacation. Consider, 25 Off The Beaten Path Destinations. Or Where to Travel to Avoid the Crowds This Spring. Instead of focusing on marking places off your bucket list, focus on finding places where none of your friends have been.
If you’re a business traveler and you have to visit because of work then your priority shifts to self-preservation. Take a look at 5 Essential Venice Survival Tips, 10 Things You Should Not Do in Amsterdam and 23 Things to Know before You Go to Barcelona.
This blog was reviewed for accuracy by
Hal Pierce, Director Marketing, Teplis Travel
