Record number of foreign tourists in Netherlands this year

A record number of foreign tourists is expected to visit the Netherlands this year, according to figures from the Dutch board of tourism and conventions NBTC, BNR reports. The NBTC expects that 15.5 million tourists from abroad will visit the Netherlands this year, mainly for short stays. That is half a million more than last year. Many of these tourists will come from our neighboring countries. While tourism is increasing in the Netherlands, people from some countries are avoiding it as travel destination. NBTC noticed a drop in particularly the number of Chinese visitors. "That has to do with the fear of terrorist attacks in Europe, but also the introduction of biometric passports has a dampening effect", Therese Ariaans of the NBTC said to BNR.