Jobseekers, volunteers need to help Amsterdam tourists: VVD

The VVD in Amsterdam wants the capital to use volunteers as hosts in the city under the slogan "I Host Amsterdam", the party announced on their website. These volunteers would assist tourists during events or busy times in the city. "I Host Amsterdam emphasizes Amsterdam's hospitality and helps to lead the ever increasing visitor flows. In addition, volunteers have the opportunity to gain experience in the hospitality industry and to qualify for a job in this industry. We expect, given the growth of tourism, that the number of jobs in the hospitality sector will grow rapidly in the coming years." said Marianne Poot. According to Poot, this program will be especially beneficial for job-seekers. The VVD wants to set up a pilot project along with DWI, volunteers' organizations, educational institutions and the staffing industry. Volunteers will follow a training program before acting as ambassador for the city. "I Host Amsterdam" is based on similar initiatives in Toronto and The Hague where 1,500 and 340 people respectively offer support to tourists during large-scale events and peak times in the city. "Experience show that there is a lot of enthusiasm for projects like 'I Host Amsterdam'. We therefore assume that this will be no different in Amsterdam.", Poot said.