Tourist tax in St. Peter-Ording: Holidays are now getting more expensive!

Tourist tax in St. Peter-Ording: Holidays are now getting more expensive!

The North Sea also attracts countless holidaymakers in autumn, but the popular places on the coast now have to adapt to changes. In St. Peter-Ording, the tourist tax for tourists will be increased from the 2025 peak season: overnight guests and day tourists will then have to pay four euros per day, which is one euro more than before. In the low season, the fee will rise to three euros, as moin.de reports. This decision is causing mixed reactions among holidaymakers.

The increase also affects Büsum, where the tourist tax will also be increased from three to four euros per day. This is part of a larger strategy to put finances on a more stable basis in both communities. The income from the tourist tax is earmarked and, according to those responsible, will be used to maintain and expand the infrastructure. This includes, among other things, road expansion, the maintenance of promenades and the financing of tourism staff, as ndr.de explains in detail.

Reactions and justifications

Tourism director Katharina Schirmbeck emphasizes that the spa tax has only been increased minimally since 2007 and sees the price adjustment as necessary. The increasing costs of maintaining the infrastructure could no longer be covered by current income. Finance Committee Chairman Lennart Kallsen adds that there is no alternative to an increase in order to ensure the extensive tourist offerings. Restaurants and other companies are also affected by this tax, which is causing discussions and discontent in the industry.

Some holidaymakers are skeptical about the new prices and compare Büsum with Sylt, for example, where the tourist tax will remain at 3.90 euros per day in the coming high season. However, Professor Bernd Eisenstein from the German Institute for Tourism Research is optimistic that the increase will not lead to a significant decline in the number of guests. An average stay on the North Sea now costs around 90 euros per day, and for a six-day holiday the total cost with the new tourist tax amounts to around 546 euros. This means that St. Peter-Ording and Büsum are now among the most expensive holiday regions in terms of tourist tax, which is further fueling competition in the north.

The future of tourism

The increase in the tourist tax is also part of a long-term strategy to adapt to climate change. This causes additional costs for the communities that have to prepare for the preservation of the unique northern German coastal landscapes. The placement of these taxes should not only benefit tourists, but also help the local population. So while the discussion about the price increase is still ongoing, it remains to be seen how the number of holidaymakers will develop in the coming years and whether other North Sea destinations will take similar steps.