The pretty European city trying to stop British tourists from visiting with new rule | World | News

The Dutch city of Amsterdam is introducing a new rule in an attempt to British tourists from visiting the pretty city.

Under the new guidelines, visitors will be encouraged to complete a pre-trip rules quiz which aims to deter those visiting the city.

Furthermore, according to euronews.travel, the new online quiz is called ‘Amsterdam Rules’. If users admit they want to go on pub crawls or visit the city’s Red Light district, the site says the activities are now forbidden.

However, if users say their intended activities are legal within Amsterdam’s rules then they are taken to its official tourism portal.

The decision to switch to a softer approach comes after the city launched a “digital discouragement campaign” last year to try and stop British tourists from visiting the city.

Dubbed “Stay Away” it involved a cyber campaign that directly asked British tourists or those coming for revelry rather than culture to stay away.

However, both last year’s and this year’s campaigns have backfired with both resulting in a spike in Britons booking holidays to Amsterdam.

Speaking to the Express, The Stag Company’s Tom Bourlet explained that the Dutch campaigns to try and make Amsterdam less attractive had backfired massively.

Mr Bourlet said: “The campaign by the Amsterdam council to deter British stag groups from visiting Amsterdam had the polar opposite effect last year, boosting our sales to record figures.

“Exactly 12 months on, they’re going for a similar tactic. Considering many of our groups are involved in nice activities, wanting to celebrate with friends and are very respectful, it does feel like a lazy stereotype of ‘Brits abroad’. It seemed to create the opposite effect they hoped for, as people opted for their stag weekend to take place in Amsterdam.”

Managing director of Last Night of Freedom Matt Mavir added: “I’d say it’s short-sighted – and economically, potentially very harmful – for a city to turn its back on such a valuable market.

“I hope the authorities in Amsterdam change course, and work with the stag and hen industry to ensure people can enjoy the city safely and responsibly.”