Belgians cashing in on their chips
FOR the thousands of Britons who flock to enjoy Belgium’s medieval cobbled streets every year, no trip would be complete without a cone of frites.
But some might be left with a bad taste after discovering just why they can be so expensive. For it has emerged that some chipsellers in Bruges have been hitting visitors with inflated prices – dubbed a ‘tourist tax’.
The contentious pricing structure emerged when an aggrieved visitor contacted Belgium’s trade regulator after finding out locals are often given a 10 per cent discount.
But claims the practice is discriminatory were dismissed as traders were told they could lower prices for different customers as long as it was not on the grounds of race or religion. At least two chip-sellers in the city have admitted giving the discounts to ‘regular customers’.
Philippe Thijs, owner of the Chez Vincent frites house, said the discount was ‘just another button on the cash register’ but admitted it may seem ‘insensitive’.
‘You have the normal price and the price for townspeople and students,’ he said.
Mayor Renaat Landuyt said that the discounts were ‘small gestures’ to those living there. Bruges officials argue the six million tourists who visit every year vastly increase prices for the dwindling number of locals.