There are too many tourists in the Red Light District
As "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, De Wallen – Amsterdam's Red Light District – is an incredibly popular adult entertainment venue where one can forget about decency. Unfortunately, few of the city's guests think about the fact that it is also a residential area, whose residents are tired of the noise and large crowds. Brothels attract up to 30 tour groups at a time, with about a thousand passing through per week. The influx of tourists is very tiring for local residents.
The new measure was also supported by the sex workers themselves. According to a survey conducted by city authorities, 80% believe that group tours harm their business – after all, this is not an exhibition; here, the "exhibits" prefer to be not only looked at but also touched.
However, some sex workers were extremely disappointed by the new measure, as it could reduce their income. "I am a sex worker in the Red Light District. I am not happy with Amsterdam's war on tourism. Many of our clients are tourists," wrote one sex worker from the Red Light District on Twitter.
At the same time, an equally important reason for introducing the ban was numerous complaints from sex workers about various displays of disrespect from tourists. "It is no longer acceptable to view sex workers as a tourist attraction," said a representative of the Amsterdam local authorities.
The new measures will take effect on January 1, 2020. In addition, under the new rules, the maximum number of participants in organized tours of the rest of the city center will also be reduced from 20 to 15. Moreover, tour guides will now have to obtain a special permit from the council, as well as pass a qualification and professional competence check.
Also in the Dutch capital, an initiative is underway aimed at reducing the number of tourist-oriented shops, as well as limiting the operation of the popular tourist service Airbnb, where guests of the capital find accommodation. City authorities are also calling for a reduction in the scale of construction of new hotels and an increase in the tourist tax.
Currently, Amsterdam is experiencing a tourism boom. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of visitors to the city could reach 29 million people per year.