Tourism set to soar, experts meet to spread the benefits and burden

Tourism in the Netherlands is set to explode and  29 million foreign visitors may visit the country in 2030, according to new forecasts by the Dutch tourism board NBTC. That is an increase of well over 50% on the 18 million foreign tourists who came to the country last year.

At the same time, the number of locals visiting other parts of the country will surge from 24 million last year to 31 million in 2030, the NBTC said.

‘This will require a new approach and the aim is to make sure everyone benefits from tourism, including locals, visitors and companies,’ according to NBTC chief Jos Vranken.

He is taking part on the first ‘Tourism Top’ summit called to look at the potential for tourism in the Netherlands and to discuss the growth forecasts. Some 120 organisations are attending Wednesday’s gathering in Deventer.

The priorities in the coming decades must be to reduce the problems caused by tourism, boost other towns and cities as attractive destinations, keep areas accessible and ensure tourists are welcomed, junior economic affairs minister Mona Keijzer said in a statement.

The tourist board has developed a strategy known as Hollandcity to try to spread tourists outside the main hotspots of Amsterdam, fishing villages and the bulb fields.