For a week, part of the editorial staff of NH Nieuws was on Texel to make stories about tourism. Residents, entrepreneurs, tourists, nature lovers: they all shared their experiences, knowledge and opinion. We invited alderman Rikus Kieft to talk about this. He has a clear opinion: “Texel is approaching the border of tourism.”
On the highest and oldest part of Texel, the Hoge Berg, reporter Kelly Blok invites alderman of tourism Rikus Kieft for a conversation. She showed him three of our reports, interviews with hospitality entrepreneur Koen Witte, forester Mariette Smit and sheep farmer John Willem Bakkerwhose farm they overlooked from the Hoge Berg.
While Witte believes that more tourists should be added to the island (“It bothers me when people say that Texel is too busy”), Smit points to the negative consequences of tourism on nature. For example, she finds bags of dog poop lying around everywhere and, according to her, people often step off the hiking trails. They disturb the animals and plants.
Watch the full interview with all questions and answers with Rikus Kieft below. Text continues below the video.
Alderman – NH News
And Jan Willem Bakker indicates that everyone enjoys the image of Texel sheep, but that he cannot continue that image without support. “Everyone is watching, but no one is helping.”
Finally, Kieft is asked whether the limit of tourism has been reached. “No, but we are close. The tourist pressure is approaching the border. And I think we are still in time to take good measures for that, but then we have to press ahead.”
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NH360 about tourism on Texel
Has Texel reached the limit of tourism? NH hopes to receive an answer to this. The stories come from all sides: 360 degrees.
From 28 February to 3 March, NH moved part of the editorial staff to Den Burg. This week we could be found daily in the Glass Palace, in the park the Orphan Garden.
All stories that were made from Texel can be recognized by the NH 360º design above the articles. A collection of the stories can be found at nhnieuws.nl/360texel.