Government officials in The Netherlands announced that the new tourist tax increase scheduled to take effect next year in Amsterdam would make the city’s fee the highest in Europe.
According to Dutch News, Amsterdam finance chief, Hester van Buren, said last week that the tourist tax on overnight stays in the city would increase to 12.5 percent of the cost of the hotel room.
For the cruise industry, passengers will pay €11 ($11.50) per person, an increase from the previous fee of €8 ($8.36). Van Buren said the tourist tax increase would make it the “fourth highest in the world.”
Amsterdam officials predict the increase in fees for arriving tourists would result in a €65 million (almost $68 million) contribution to the city’s economy, with the money being used to pay for local services.
Van Buren said a tourist renting a room for €175 ($183) a night would pay a fee of around €22 ($23) per day, an increase from the previous €15 ($16).
“It is a balancing act, and an estimate,” Van Buren told Dutch News. “Of course, it would be good if the high tax helped against overtourism, but then you would also bring in less money.”
