Not allowing daytime tourists in Blankenberge does not solve the problem, according to virologist Marc Van Ranst. ‘Then they go one coastal city further. This could have been tackled better at provincial level or for the entire coast. ‘
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On a big brawl on the beach Saturday Mayor of Blankenberge Daphné Dumery (N-VA) announced that day tourists are not welcome on Sunday. ‘As a virologist it is clear: too many people is never good. I can only disapprove riots or fights, ‘Marc Van Ranst responds. ‘But banning day-trippers won’t solve the problem. Then they go one kilometer further to another coastal city. They could have solved that better, at provincial level or for the entire coast, for example. ‘
Van Ranst believes that the coast would sail better with a different solution. ‘I understand that not everyone has the luxury of a terrace or garden.’ He does not find a solution to stop sending trains. ‘Not everyone has a car – neither do I – but make sure you have a reservation system or a similar system on the train. When the seats are finished, the train is full. We have to get rid of that standing up on the train. ‘ Just like Mayor of Ostend Bart Tommelein (Open VLD), the virologist is against extra trains, because that also brings more tourists to the coast.
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