we've been banned....official.

[Old Timer]

When the wietpas is introduced it will have a major effect on budget and mid-range hotels and budget or cheaper restaurants. As these sort of places usually operate on low margins but high turnover, it could see many go out of business within weeks or months. There will be a knock on effect for jobs for cleaners, chefs and cooks, waiters, delivery drivers and others involved in the hotel and restaurant trade. As well as other tourist related businesses like boat and guided tours, bike rental etc.
That's why the Mayor and Amsterdam city council are opposed to the wietpas. They know it will have a huge effect on the local tourist industry. It could takes years to recover. They have been trying to attract wealthy tourists to Amsterdam for years now, but that's what all European cities want to do. Without the unique hook of the coffeeshops, Amsterdam's tourist trade will find itself in a very competitive market.

That is exactly why I've said and thought all along that it won't be implemented in Amsterdam.
Now we just have to hope that we're right!

[treetop]

Might have posted this elsewhere already but I don't think the government gives a damn about knock on effects of the Wietpass. They can't be so stupid as to fail to realise that closing coffeeshops will hurt tourism. Especially in amsterdam.

I think this was an ideological decision, taken with eyes open in the knowledge it will hurt tourism. For the people bringing in the new law they simply do not care about job losses etc. They just want to be go to dinner parties and tell all their right thinking religious friends that they are 'cleaning up' the Netherlands and especially Amsterdam.

The Hookers will be next to go IMHO

[piedpiperofvice]

"Hope' is a great thing that usually achieves nothing.

exactly

[piedpiperofvice]

I hear all of this talk about Amsterdam falling to its knees once the tourist ban comes into place but I’m really not so sure. When you walk around you see such a mixture of people from all sorts of backgrounds coming to enjoy various activities with coffee shops of course being just one but I would say by no means the primary reason.

Something I have noticed over the last few years is the increasing number of ‘suits’ on the flights that I’m on and I tend to go twice a year and have been the last several years. I’m becoming more aware of Amsterdams burgeoning international business boom with more and more company’s having regional offices, conference centres and facilities so I think this is all part of the evolution of this great City. Just my thoughts

very true ...tourism not a big deal to their gdp,hence, other methods are needed

[piedpiperofvice]

When the wietpas is introduced it will have a major effect on budget and mid-range hotels and budget or cheaper restaurants. As these sort of places usually operate on low margins but high turnover, it could see many go out of business within weeks or months. There will be a knock on effect for jobs for cleaners, chefs and cooks, waiters, delivery drivers and others involved in the hotel and restaurant trade. As well as other tourist related businesses like boat and guided tours, bike rental etc.
That's why the Mayor and Amsterdam city council are opposed to the wietpas. They know it will have a huge effect on the local tourist industry. It could takes years to recover. They have been trying to attract wealthy tourists to Amsterdam for years now, but that's what all European cities want to do. Without the unique hook of the coffeeshops, Amsterdam's tourist trade will find itself in a very competitive market.

That is exactly why I've said and thought all along that it won't be implemented in Amsterdam.
Now we just have to hope that we're right!

except ,old timer, they don't give a shit about those businesses and if anything probably want them to fail. they truly do want to market to the older and tame demographic

[piedpiperofvice]

Might have posted this elsewhere already but I don't think the government gives a damn about knock on effects of the Wietpass. They can't be so stupid as to fail to realise that closing coffeeshops will hurt tourism. Especially in amsterdam.

I think this was an ideological decision, taken with eyes open in the knowledge it will hurt tourism. For the people bringing in the new law they simply do not care about job losses etc. They just want to be go to dinner parties and tell all their right thinking religious friends that they are 'cleaning up' the Netherlands and especially Amsterdam.

The Hookers will be next to go IMHO

bingo,hence, all the bullshit letter writing and protest crap is going nowhere. you need to actually exact a cost on some voters or you won't change shit. right now a minority of voters are gung ho about the weitpas , most don't give a damn or even know. since it does not effect them they are more likely to go along with the true believers or let the cda run this show...now if you can find ways to make the weitpas painful to the common dutchman we've got a chance

[Old Timer]

except ,old timer, they don't give a shit about those businesses and if anything probably want them to fail. they truly do want to market to the older and tame demographic

It's not just the government, the mayor of Amsterdam cares a lot about the votes he'll get next election, without his agreement/help, it will be close to impossible to implement the pass.
Anyway, none of us know what will happen, we all have our guesses, educated or otherwise.
Even after everything I've read, including the government not caring and all the rest of it. I still don't think it will be implemented in Amsterdam.
I'm not saying I know, just that it's my somewhat educated guess.
Eventually we will see who guessed right, and who guessed wrong.

[Slip & Sal]

How will it entice people who don't smoke to come? There will still be Dutchies blowing dope smoke everywhere.

[Marco]

except ,old timer, they don't give a shit about those businesses and if anything probably want them to fail. they truly do want to market to the older and tame demographic

It's not just the government, the mayor of Amsterdam cares a lot about the votes he'll get next election, without his agreement/help, it will be close to impossible to implement the pass.
Anyway, none of us know what will happen, we all have our guesses, educated or otherwise.
Even after everything I've read, including the government not caring and all the rest of it. I still don't think it will be implemented in Amsterdam.
I'm not saying I know, just that it's my somewhat educated guess.
Eventually we will see who guessed right, and who guessed wrong.

Actually, the mayor is appointed, not elected here. He is in the PvdA (Labor).

[donpacino]

except ,old timer, they don't give a shit about those businesses and if anything probably want them to fail. they truly do want to market to the older and tame demographic

It's not just the government, the mayor of Amsterdam cares a lot about the votes he'll get next election, without his agreement/help, it will be close to impossible to implement the pass.
Anyway, none of us know what will happen, we all have our guesses, educated or otherwise.
Even after everything I've read, including the government not caring and all the rest of it. I still don't think it will be implemented in Amsterdam.
I'm not saying I know, just that it's my somewhat educated guess.
Eventually we will see who guessed right, and who guessed wrong.

Actually, the mayor is appointed, not elected here. He is in the PvdA (Labor).

They are quite pro-marijuana arent they??

[dconstrukt]

my friends here said sadly, they hope hell breaks loose in masstricht.... so they realize this is a disaster.

he told me burger king, mc'd's etc are having to lay off a lot of ppl there... and its affecting the economy already.

i can see these big companies putting pressure on the govmnt to stop it in amsterdam but right now people here seem a bit worried.

my friend @ greenhouse said in 2014 they're planning to just have 22 coffeeshops in amsterdam for the locals with the weed pass.

so 200+ would shut down.

which is crazy.

I'm here sitting in starbucks @ rembrant square.... the coffeeshops seem a bit slow and dead.... definitely not the same buzz as last year.

[Cam9191]

FUCK FUCK FUCK!! Does this mean I will be allowed to smoke for my upcoming trip to Amsterdam on June 5th-7th this year before the ban goes in effective?!?!?!?!?!

[dude65]

No, you're good. The current schedule for Amsterdam ist January 1, 2013.