Amsterdam to ban cruise ships in efforts to control tourism and fight air pollution

Amsterdam voted to ban cruise ships in an effort to chop again on the influx of vacationers and cut back air pollution from the enormous vessels. The Dutch capital’s council voted on Thursday to limit the jumbo ships from docking within the metropolis and goals to shut its central cruise-ship terminal, based on a municipality spokesperson. The timeline and particulars of implementation might be determined after consultations with varied stakeholders, the spokesperson mentioned.

“The polluting cruise is just not consistent with Amsterdam’s sustainable ambitions,” mentioned Ilana Rooderkerk, the native chief of the socially progressive D66 occasion, which launched the movement. “Cruise ships within the metropolis middle additionally don’t slot in with the duty of combating mass tourism.” Amsterdam has one of many largest cruise ports in Europe, internet hosting tons of of mega ships and about 700,000 cruise passengers every year. The nation has different cruise terminals in Rotterdam and IJmuiden.

The choice comes amid a wider crackdown on the vacationer inflow and sense of disruption they bring about to Amsterdam, a metropolis famed for its purple mild district and occasional outlets that promote marijuana. Mayor Femke Halsema has been spearheading a marketing campaign to discourage guests from taking what she has known as a “trip from morals.”

Amsterdam attracts greater than 1 million vacationers on common every month, surpassing its inhabitants of simply over 800,000. Halsema is decided to completely shift the financial steadiness between residents and vacationers, and rethink Amsterdam’s free-wheeling picture as a magnet for sex- and drug-seeking vacationers.

Earlier this 12 months, town’s council banned out of doors marijuana smoking within the red-light district. In March, metropolis authorities additionally launched an internet effort focusing on younger British males in a “Keep Away” marketing campaign aimed toward protecting rowdy guests from descending upon town. Italy’s authorities launched measures in 2021 to ban giant cruise ships in Venice’s historic lagoon to guard the location from mass tourism.

This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Solely the headline has been modified.