Less money spent on Dutch holidays   

By The Holland Times Tuesday 20 July 2010, 10:07

Both Dutch and foreign tourists have spent less money last year in the Netherlands. In 2009 they collectively spent 35.2 billion euros according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Monday. This is a decrease of 3.8 percent compared with 2008. Adjusted for price changes even with expenditures decreased 4.7 percent. 

Tourists mainly spent less on transport. "Not only did airfare decrease significantly, there were also fewer tickets sold," says the CBS. Last year's total transport costs were 5.1 billion euros, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared with 2008.. Adjusted for price changes, the decline was 4.1 percent.

Following the economic crisis fewer Dutch fewer went on holiday, and those who did stayed closer to home, the CBS reports. Often, travelers took their own car instead of flying. CBS also notes that when the Dutch fly, they regularly choose an airport just across the border. "Airports in Germany and Belgium saw the Dutch passenger number increase," says CBS, noting that the introduction of the flight tax may cause this.