Tourists are giving The Hague’s economy a big boost. Over the last 5 years, the number of overnight stays increased 26%. Currently some € 2 billion per year is being spent on leisure and recreation, according to the progress report up to 2015 which The Hague Municipal Executive sent to the Municipal Council on 9 November.
Much of the growth can be credited to international tourists. These tourists spend relatively more and therefore are having a positive impact on the local economy.
Employment is also benefiting from this. Approximately 10% of The Hague’s residents earn their living directly or indirectly from tourism. Some 40% of the jobs in the tourism sector are filled by people with a low education level, a group which traditionally has high unemployment rates.
Tourist attractions
After Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Hague is the third most popular tourist destination city in the Netherlands. The Municipal Executive is aiming to make The Hague more competitive and to bring it up to second place by creating more one-of-a-kind tourist attractions, like the Ferris wheel on the Pier, the 60-year-old Tourist Tram and the Museum Quarter.
The city’s unique selling points – its image as city of peace and justice, its attractiveness as city by the sea, the rich cultural programme and its royal charm – will also be reinforced.
The Hague would also like to raise its visibility by organising large-scale international events such as the exhibitions in the Gemeentemuseum during the Mondrian Year in 2017 and the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race and the 200-year celebrations for Scheveningen in 2018. It will also launch a big media campaign in 2017 and it is working together with travel bloggers.
Source: www.thehague.com
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