"Stay away" from Amsterdam

The Amsterdam authorities decided to fight the reputation of the city of "coffee shops and debauchery" by coming up with a development strategy until 2035, called "Stay away".

One of the most beautiful and cozy cities in the world, which is also one of the most visited cities in Europe, over the past decade has become associated exclusively with the place of legalization, bars and the street of "red lanterns". Many tourists come for the weekend not to enjoy the historical heritage, but for understandable leisure.

A negative reputation affects the "quality" of tourists. Older tourists prefer other quieter cities, such as Bruges, where, while walking, you do not have to bypass crowds of "overly relaxed" people. The same applies to children whose parents are opposed to the ideas of their children to go for a "walk" in Amsterdam.

Ideas and solutions for how the program will be implemented will be made public on December 21, and the start of implementation is scheduled for spring next year.

Presumably, many establishments will have limited opening hours. The sale of narcotic drugs and alcohol may be prohibited in the city center. In addition, the issues of introducing tangible daily tourist fees and restrictions on short-term rental housing, which will make "permissive tourism" less affordable, are being discussed.

The biggest questions remain whether tourists will start adding the name of the city itself to the slogan of the "Stay Away" program, whether these restrictions will form a "black market" that will have an even more negative impact on reputation, and how this program will affect the economy of the city, which is visited by more than 21 million tourists annually.