Johannes Novy, Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture + Cities, wrote an article for The Conversation about Amsterdam’s plans for what tourism should look like after COVID-19.
The article discusses how, for residents of the Netherlands, the pandemic has been a “blessing in disguise”. They have enjoyed the newfound tranquillity and were relieved to have a break from the permanent noise, litter and disruption caused by tourists.
Johannes Novy wrote: “COVID has offered a rare, if not unique chance to address tourism’s enduring problems. From how people reach destinations to how tourism is managed within the cities it floods, not to mention the way its benefits and costs are distributed to local communities, the burden of overtourism has long been a concern.”
Talking about resilience, he added: “In this respect, Amsterdam presents an interesting model. COVID has accelerated the implementation of several measures under consideration well before the pandemic took hold. The city has adopted ordinances that variously prevent souvenir shops from displacing local businesses, developers from turning residential spaces into holiday lets, and new hotels from being built.”
Read the full article on The Conversation’s website.
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