The city of Ghent in Belgium, well-known for its old medieval town, is implementing new accommodation measures to combat overtourism.
These include a ban on the opening of new BnB establishments, as well as a tourist tax of €6 (R120) on Airbnb accommodation from next year.
According to tourism-review.com, the measures were announced after the competition between Airbnb hosts and hoteliers was found to be unfair.
The tax is expected to pare down the number of tourists arriving on cruise ships – and although those tourists only stay in the city for a few hours, their numbers have been restricted.
Rudy Deuvitte, Ghent Hoteliers’ Representative, said cruise tourists did not contribute to the city’s economy: "They arrive in groups of 600 but do not spend money in the city. They do not dine in local restaurants, but eat on the boat."
According to a Ghent municipal report, overnight tourists spend an average of €163 (R3 294) per day, while day visitors only spend €81 (R1 637) per day. These statistics influenced the municipality’s decision to prioritise hotel accommodation in order to achieve balance in the economic benefits brought to Ghent by tourists.
