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Las Ramblas, Barcelona; inset, tourism director Joan Torrella


City bosses seek ways to combat overtourism


Some of Europe’s top destinations are striving to manage


the ‘explosive’ issue of too many visitors. Ian Taylor reports from ITB in Berlin


Tourist overcrowding has become an “explosive” issue in Amsterdam, while Barcelona city council has declared “it’s impossible to add more people”.


Amsterdam Marketing chief


executive Frans van der Avert said: “We have city elections and it is a major issue. This is explosive. For cities with small historic centres, talking about getting more people to your city is not sustainable.”


72 travelweekly.co.uk 15 March 2018 Speaking at German travel trade


show ITB in Berlin, Van der Avert called for Europe-wide regulation and said: “Our visitors increase by 10% a year. But visitors go away; cities are made by the inhabitants. “We implemented 60 measures


– regulations with strict enforcement, stopping hotels opening in the city centre. We use festivals to spread visitors around. We try to make the city bigger than


the centre. We’re thinking about an education campaign for visitors on how to behave in the city.” He said Amsterdam Marketing


was in talks with Airbnb about registering visitor numbers as it currently does not share details. “It’s time for Europe-wide


regulation [of sharing economy accommodation platforms]. The problem won’t go away.” Barcelona City Council tourism


director Joan Torrella said: “Before we only talked about promoting the city. Now we talk about managing a city with tourism.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 70


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; JORG CARSTENSEN/MESSE BERLIN


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