Camping Het Horstmannsbos in Gasselte is completely full. “It’s busy, but we’re still manage,” smiles owner Maikel Siemerink. The campsite has 125 camping spots, 16 safari tents and 2 tractor cabins. Although the sun is shining, Siemerink sees the dark clouds hanging figuratively.
“Next year the VAT rate on the overnight stays will be increased from 9 to 21 percent. That is a huge increase for many guests,” he fears. “We cannot help but tax the higher costs to the guests. We also have to pay our employees. Those costs will all take place.”
Hotels, holiday homes, bed and breakfasts, hostels and mobile homes: spending the night in these accommodations will be heavier taxed next year. Camping places where the own tent or caravan is taken in the low VAT rate of 9 percent. But the nights in a safari tent fall back into the 21 percent.
Siemerink doesn’t understand anything at all. “These accommodations are extremely suitable for people who have less to spend. That will be a big blow to them next year.”
Vincent Hoogenboom from Oud Ade agrees with the campsite owner. He rents a small safari tent for a few nights. “You tackle the wrong people. Get the money from the people who have more to spend on their vacation. For example, air travel.”
His neighbor at the campsite, Jan Woudstra from Menaldum, Frisian, also finds the VAT increase an unwise plan. “As the Netherlands, you would like to bring the tourists to your country. This way you just hunt them.”
The much cheaper Germany sounds: the VAT on accommodation is still 7 percent. “In recent years, recreational and marketing Drenthe have put a lot of energy and resources in bringing the German tourist to Drenthe. In this way all that work has been for nothing,” concludes Siemerink.
Marketing Drenthe notices that the concerns about increasing competition with the border region is increasing among the entrepreneurs. “We expect the impact to be greatest in hotels, holiday parks and campsites,” said a spokesperson.
Farming recreation is also affected by the VAT increase. And there is something to be added: LTO Noord fears double costs for the tourist.
“Many municipalities have less money to spend next year, because there are fewer financial resources from the government. We get signals that they are therefore going to increase the tourist tax,” explains LTO Noord regional director Arend Steenbergen.
“Then we are hit from two sides: by both the national and the local government.” Steenbergen fears that tourists will avoid farmers’ recreation for that reason. “The result is less excitement in the countryside and farmers who have to look for another source of income.”
Steenbergen hopes that municipalities will therefore not implement the intended increase in the tourist tax next year. “Think before you start.”