Battle for Sylt: Tourism crisis threatens retail and living space!

Battle for Sylt: Tourism crisis threatens retail and living space!

For many, a holiday on Sylt is the highlight of the year. But behind the picturesque facade of the sunny island there are worrying developments. The economy's dependence on tourism is enormous, which becomes a problem especially outside of the high season. Retail in particular has been suffering from declining sales since the Corona pandemic. “We clearly felt the reluctance to buy,” explains fashion retailer Karl Max Hellner, who reports falling numbers. Retailer Kirstin Dobrot also sees a need for action and is calling for creative solutions, such as pop-up stores, to revitalize the city center. Moin.de reports that there is a lack of infrastructure: high rents, a lack of staff and unreliable rail connections are affecting business owners. Entrepreneur Alexander Wirth calls for a common “we” feeling and new ideas to increase the island’s attractiveness.

But it's not just the retail sector that is struggling with difficulties. A lack of living space for seasonal workers and locals is further slowing down tourism. Over 4,000 people commute from the mainland to work in Sylt every day, but often cannot find affordable housing on the island. According to current reports, there is a lack of many residential units in the municipality of Sylt. Around 2,500 new apartments for permanent residential use are to be built by 2030 in order to counteract the urgent housing problem , according to the Consumer Protection Forum.

Rising rents and stagnating offers

On Sylt and the surrounding North Frisian islands such as Amrum and Föhr, the lack of living space is becoming increasingly visible. Rents for subsidized apartments start at around seven euros per square meter, which remains unaffordable for many. The largest subsidized social housing project in Schleswig-Holstein with 189 apartments is also being built in Westerland and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. But the waiting lists are long and the Gewoba Nord housing association cannot meet demand. The regulation that prohibits the construction of new holiday apartments has its advantages, but renting them out to tourists is all the more lucrative, which creates further difficulties for established living space , as the AHGZ reports.

An additional problem arises from the shortage of skilled workers. Many businesses have to reduce their opening hours or close because there is a lack of sufficient staff. Nicole Hesse, a hotel operator on Amrum, estimates that 200 to 300 apartments are missing to adequately accommodate seasonal staff. The IHK Flensburg has already sounded the alarm: without a solution to the housing situation, the situation could get even worse. To counteract this, an interactive portal called “Smart ‘n’ Job” is being developed, which provides information on housing and job offers. The beta version is scheduled to launch in spring 2025.

There seems to be a consensus on the need for change on Sylt, and many voices are calling for a rethink in the tourist community. The challenges are great, but with strong solidarity and creative concepts, the proud island could perhaps still develop a good hand for the future.