Greifswald: Closing business - is the city threatening the ghost town?

Greifswald: Closing business - is the city threatening the ghost town?

In the past few weeks, the Hanseatic city of Greifswald on the Baltic Sea is making a name for itself - but not in a positive sense. The city is increasingly losing business and is more and more perceived by its residents and visitors than "ghost town". According to merkur recently had to conclude three businesses, including a wine dealer, including a wine dealer Wine had offered, as well as a patisserie that only opened its doors at the end of 2023. The reasons are as diverse as it is worrying: a lack of customer flow ensures that the time -honored cityscape fades a bit more.

Especially the closures in areas that are of great interest to Baltic Sea vacationers are of great interest, which the city continues to put pressure on the current season. Criticism in social media grows; Many users describe the city center as empty and less inviting. Travel comparisons with other cities show that Anklam and Stralsund are currently at the forefront: cheaper parking fees and a more lively city center make these places more attractive for tourists. In Greifswald, on the other hand, high parking fees scare many visitors.

tourism despite setbacks

Despite these worrying developments, there were up to 310,000 overnight stays in Greifswald in 2024, which is a record. This gratifying number is largely favored by the anniversary year of the famous painter Caspar David Friedrich, which attracted many people interested in culture to the city. But the future looks unsafe: Greifswald Marketing GmbH expects a decline in tourism numbers for 2025.

In a broader context, Schleswig-Holstein still remains one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany, as from information from Ostsee Schleswig-Holstein . In 2024, arrivals rose by 1.4% and overnight stays by 0.4%. The positive trend in recent years continues, although Greifswald is falling behind many in this regard, while Holsteinische Switzerland shines with an overnight increase of 3.8%.

So what will be from Greifswald? It is clear that measures have to be taken to make the city more attractive for tourists and locals again. The current developments put the community to the test and it remains to be seen whether Greifswald can regain its charming reputation as a lively holiday destinations on the Baltic Sea.

For travelers who want to visit Greifswald, the city remains a worthwhile goal with its cultural and art scene, as has already href = "https://www.spiegel.de/reund/tapps-fuer-staedte-greifswald-noch-ehimmel-ueber-a-f4b068b3-4005-eb2b2b2b655f4895" Target = "_ blank"> mirror To enjoy the Baltic Sea sky over your head.