Earlier this year, the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, touted a proposal to ban foreign tourists from entering cannabis-serving establishments as a way to reinvent the city’s image.
In recent pre-pandemic years, the city attracted around 20 million tourists annually.
“If they were to ban the tourists, 80% of our customers would be gone,” Mcguire told DW.
He believes that due to the amount of money that the industry brings in, such a ban on foreigners in cafes is unlikely to come into effect.
However, even Mcguire herself found Amsterdam to be more peaceful without the influx of travelers.
Others have stronger feelings on the matter.
“They could have more of a police presence in the red-light district.
The Bulldog coffee shop normally does brisk business.