Amsterdam hoteliers fear that guests will stay away now that the tax burden on an overnight stay in our capital is approaching 41 percent due to increased VAT on accommodation and a higher local tourist tax. Instead of arguing about rates, those involved would do better to ask a different question: what is actually the problem here? A creative approach helps in finding solutions. BUas expert Rob van Ginneken gives his view on the issue.
See also: Amsterdam hotel owners fear tourist exodus due to extreme tax burden | BNR Nieuwsradio
The parking problem is not a space problem, but a time problem.
Creativity guru Edward De Bono aptly illustrates the importance of properly defining a problem in the book *De Bono's Thinking Course*. In a city, many commuters park in and around the center, leaving residents unable to find a parking spot when going grocery shopping. If you define this as a space problem, the only remaining solutions are building more parking spaces or introducing paid parking. De Bono reformulates the problem: it is not a space issue, but a matter of time. Let people park for free in designated spots near the center, but with their headlights on. Commuters will think twice before parking their cars exactly there. This way, as many people as possible can make use of the scarce parking space.
Amsterdam skips a step in tourism discussion
The Municipality of Amsterdam appears to have skipped this step in its reasoning. According to research cited in *Het Parool *, the overtourism problem consists “…primarily of crowding and nuisance, followed by litter on the streets, rude behavior, and noise pollution.” The translation to “too many hotel stays” is debatable. After all, whose litter is it, and who is behaving rudely and noisily? If overtourism is operationalized in this way, a higher tourist tax quickly comes into play. Royal Horeca Netherlands wants to set national limits on this after this.”
The municipality too often seeks restrictions to curb overcrowding.
The Parool article lists a series of measures previously taken by Amsterdam. They are merely restrictions and prohibitions. With a little more creativity, Amsterdam will surely find other avenues for solutions. De Bono might say: “How do we ensure that all those people who love visiting our beautiful Amsterdam so much add something to the city?” Amsterdam is now burdening the bed. The problem is not the bed; the problem is a lack of creative thinking.
Source and more information: www.buas.nl