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| Until recently unthinkable: an empty Dam. |
Amsterdam wants to give the city centre back to
Amsterdammers
While the fight against the coronavirus is still raging,
the Centre district, the city marketing, catering and institutions behind the
scenes are in talks about a new start for the amsterdam city centre after the
crisis.
Michiel Couzy
26 april 2020,
7:00
"We don't
want the nuisance of tourists back," says Geerte Udo, director of Amsterdam&partners, the organisation that
provides city marketing. The talks are about the opportunities that the corona
crisis offers to give the city centre back to Amsterdammers and to work on
'sustainable tourism'.
"We need to
get this momentum. I really hope that flat consumerism has disappeared from
tourism when this is over."
Too dependent on
tourism
The corona crisis
makes it clear that the inner city has become too dependent on tourism. Now
that the visitors are no longer coming, the streets are extinct and the economy
is at a standstill. Despite all the misery, the corona crisis also offers a
great opportunity for the city centre, says planner Zef Hemel, who developed a vision of the future
for this part of the city on behalf of Mayor Femke Halsema. "Humanity has
returned, now we have to entice Amsterdammers to go back to the city
centre," he says.
De Wallen
District Chairman
Mascha ten Bruggencate:"We are trying to make the city centre fun for the
whole of Amsterdam. And yes, we are now taking two steps forward."
After the
previous recession, Amsterdam was fully committed to tourism, which had to get
the economy back on track. But it soon got out of hand with the rise of budget
flights, economic growth in China and India, and the international appeal of
the Red Light District and the coffee shops. Amsterdam, especially the city
centre, was flowing.
The urban
marketing new style is working on a new reputation for Amsterdam, which has to
attract tourists who do not cause any inconvenience. The marketing also focuses
on Amsterdammers. "It would be nice if the residents appreciate their own
city and center more when this crisis is over," udo said.
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