There are several changes that has been brought about by the growth of tourism in the Netherlands. First and foremost, the obvious which is the economic impacts tourism has resulted for the country.
Economic
Tourism in the Netherlands is a very crucial economic sector. The country receives more than 10 million foreign visitors each year, primarily from countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium and even the United States. The contribution of Tourism to Gross Domestic Product or GDP is expected to rise from 7.2% (€42 billion or US$62.1 billion) in 2010 to 7.5% (€66.4 billion or US$86.8 billion) by 2020. Around 450 000 people are employed in the tourism sector providing for 6.5% of Netherlands total employment. Because of tourism, many jobs and new jobs are created in the tourist sector such as accommodation, restaurants and airports.
Social
It is undeniable that the Netherlands is known for its Drug tourism.
It is undeniable that the Netherlands is known for its Drug tourism.
One can purchase and use cannabis legally in the Netherlands, which is rare for most western countries, and has led to a large number of "drug tourists" from abroad. Majority of these tourists were contributing to the economy. A quarter of the tourists visits a coffee shop, while one in ten especially come to Amsterdam to visit coffee shops. As Netherlands distinguishes between “Soft drugs” such as Cannabis is legal, people flock down to Netherlands to do drugs as it might be illegal in their country.
However recently ironically, the new Dutch government has decided to ban foreigners from buying cannabis in Dutch cannabis coffee shops and this will have a negative impact on foreign tourism to the Netherlands. "And especially to Amsterdam, according to the Dutch Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC).”
However recently ironically, the new Dutch government has decided to ban foreigners from buying cannabis in Dutch cannabis coffee shops and this will have a negative impact on foreign tourism to the Netherlands. "And especially to Amsterdam, according to the Dutch Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC).”
The reason why the government is banning foreigners from buying Cannabis is because they feel that the "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it." The government feels that the drug tourist are responsible for many crimes such as pickpocketing, scam etc...
Amsterdam, home to 223 coffee shops, is already in the process of closing some in the red light district to tackle criminal activity in the area. The government's plans for a tourist ban, whereby only holders of a resident's pass would be allowed to buy hash, has not yet been formally put into law and no time frame has been proposed. Some Dutch border towns such as Maastricht and Terneuzen have already restricted the sale of marijuana to foreigners to limit crime and disturbances such as traffic jams.
The Netherlands coffeeshops used to sell cannabis to anyone but because of the drug tourists that has caused so many crimes and problems, the government aims to curb the problem by banning tourists from buying cannabis.
The obvious change right now is that once the ban is placed, those coffeeshops have to ensure that no foreigners are allowed to buy cannabis and they will definitely suffer losses judging that most of the patrons of coffeeshops are tourists. The more serious problems i feel are
The Netherlands coffeeshops used to sell cannabis to anyone but because of the drug tourists that has caused so many crimes and problems, the government aims to curb the problem by banning tourists from buying cannabis.
The obvious change right now is that once the ban is placed, those coffeeshops have to ensure that no foreigners are allowed to buy cannabis and they will definitely suffer losses judging that most of the patrons of coffeeshops are tourists. The more serious problems i feel are
"back door" or illegal sales.
Some of the other changes are development.
The Schiphol airport is the 4th largest airport and accounts for nearly 40% of total passengers movements. The airport is built as one large terminal, split into three large departure halls. The most recent of these was completed in 1994, and expanded in 2007 with a new part, named Terminal 4, although this part is not recognized as a separate building. Plans for further terminal expansion exist, including the construction of a separate new terminal between the Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan runways that would end the one-terminal concept. There is even a plan to build a seventh runway.
Currently there is a train station in the airport which connects passengers directly Antwerp, Brussels and Paris.
Tourism has brought about developments of the airport and even the recent 2005 development of high speed rail connection called HSL that links Randstad with France and Germany.
The Hoge Sneldheids lijn high speed railway
These developments are probably undertaken to cater and contain the influx of tourists from around the world. The developments of the airport and high speed rail does not only benefit tourists but benefits the locals as well.
Currently there is a train station in the airport which connects passengers directly Antwerp, Brussels and Paris.
Tourism has brought about developments of the airport and even the recent 2005 development of high speed rail connection called HSL that links Randstad with France and Germany.
The Hoge Sneldheids lijn high speed railway
These developments are probably undertaken to cater and contain the influx of tourists from around the world. The developments of the airport and high speed rail does not only benefit tourists but benefits the locals as well.
Environmental
Massive influxes of tourists, often to a relatively small area, have a huge impact. They add to the pollution, waste, and water needs of the local population, putting local infrastructure and habitats under enormous pressure.
I will be zooming into the Netherlands Antilles which are the Islands that form part of the the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consists of the islands St Eustatius, Curacao and Bonaire in the Caribbean sea. They are renowned for their abundance of marine life and corals. The environmental issues brought about by tourism are garbage recycling and reduction causing massive amounts of undisposed waste. Also there was a problem with overfishing eel to cook smoked eel in restaurants that the eel population is decreasing. Problems like careless boating, diving, snorkeling, and fishing have substantially damaged coral reefs, through people touching the reefs, stirring up sediment, and dropping anchors.Collection of corals, shells, and other marine souvenirs either by individual tourists, or local people who then sell the souvenirs to tourists - also has a detrimental effect on the local environment.This compelled the government in Netherlands Antilles to come up with a Nature and Environment policy Plan 2004-2007 to deal with waste, conserve natural resources and to increase public awareness of environmental issues as well as develop sustainable development.
Touristy behaviors have led to many environmental problems mainly in the coastal areas of the Netherlands. With the large number of tourists to such areas, the coastal areas are more prone to environmental problems and preservation and conservation is important before the entire coastal area is damaged and difficult to salvage.
Massive influxes of tourists, often to a relatively small area, have a huge impact. They add to the pollution, waste, and water needs of the local population, putting local infrastructure and habitats under enormous pressure.
I will be zooming into the Netherlands Antilles which are the Islands that form part of the the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consists of the islands St Eustatius, Curacao and Bonaire in the Caribbean sea. They are renowned for their abundance of marine life and corals. The environmental issues brought about by tourism are garbage recycling and reduction causing massive amounts of undisposed waste. Also there was a problem with overfishing eel to cook smoked eel in restaurants that the eel population is decreasing. Problems like careless boating, diving, snorkeling, and fishing have substantially damaged coral reefs, through people touching the reefs, stirring up sediment, and dropping anchors.Collection of corals, shells, and other marine souvenirs either by individual tourists, or local people who then sell the souvenirs to tourists - also has a detrimental effect on the local environment.This compelled the government in Netherlands Antilles to come up with a Nature and Environment policy Plan 2004-2007 to deal with waste, conserve natural resources and to increase public awareness of environmental issues as well as develop sustainable development.
Touristy behaviors have led to many environmental problems mainly in the coastal areas of the Netherlands. With the large number of tourists to such areas, the coastal areas are more prone to environmental problems and preservation and conservation is important before the entire coastal area is damaged and difficult to salvage.
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