Amsterdam Considers Raising Tourist Tax to 20% to Combat Overtourism

(Central News Agency reporter Wu Bowei, Brussels, 6th special dispatch) In order to address the impact of "overtourism" on the environment and quality of life, Amsterdam, Netherlands, is considering raising its tourist tax from the current 12.5% to 16%, with a subsequent gradual increase to 20%.

In recent years, the chaos caused by overtourism has been endless. While a large number of tourists boost local consumption and economic development, they also bring problems such as environmental pollution, security risks, and a decline in quality of life. Amsterdam, which welcomes over 20 million tourists annually, is also facing this challenge.

According to a report by Dutch News, Amsterdam's government team is planning to raise the tourist tax from the current 12.5% to 16% next year, followed by gradual increases of 1 percentage point, eventually reaching 20%.

The report indicates that Amsterdam's last adjustment to the tourist tax was in 2024. At that time, the tax was raised to 12.5%, making it the city with the fourth highest tourist tax in the world.

According to calculations by the Amsterdam City Council, if the tourist tax is further raised to 16% next year, it is expected to generate €60 million (approximately NT$2.18 billion) in annual revenue for the city, with revenue projected to reach €75 million by 2030. Officials emphasize that this money will be used to cover the city's costs for management, maintenance, law enforcement, and construction, and that collecting this fee ensures tourists make a fair contribution.

The report notes that many local residents believe low-cost tours have caused numerous problems and are preparing to take legal action. The Amsterdam government is also considering new regulations to tax these day-trippers and participants of low-cost tours who do not stay overnight.

The report also mentions that although the city council once set a target of no more than 20 million overnight visitors per year, this goal has not been achieved in recent years. A citizen initiative called "Amsterdam heeft een Keuze" (Amsterdam Has a Choice) has been pressuring the government through petitions and lawsuits, calling for the issue of "overtourism" to be addressed. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150607