Water tourism in MV: courage to digitize or stand still?

Water tourism in MV: courage to digitize or stand still?

However, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a true El Dorado for water sports enthusiasts, is struggling with water tourism. In particular, the Müritz-Elde waterway, which acts as a link between the picturesque lakes of the Mecklenburg Lake District and the Elbe, shows clear deficiencies that have not been remedied despite extensive investments in recent years. The Northern Courier reports that the infrastructure, which is over 100 years old, is visibly showing its age and its maintenance is becoming increasingly complex and expensive.

Despite the challenges, the waterway remains a popular destination even as demand stagnates. Small family businesses along the waterway in particular rely on the few months of the season to generate their income. There is a clear gap between the coastal region and the inland, which was revealed in a study on the economic viability of water tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Water tourism generates considerable revenue and secures tens of thousands of jobs, but at the same time it is clear that cooperation between the federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania needs to be improved.

Infrastructure and challenges

With 17 locks, the Müritz-Elde waterway overcomes a height difference of 49 meters between the Elbe and Lake Plauer. Many of these locks have been converted to self-service operations, making passage easier for boaters, but the different lock times between Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania make operations problematic. Repairs, such as the one recently carried out on the lock in Lübz, are also affecting boat traffic. The lock in Dömitz is often not passable due to the water levels of the Elbe, which does not improve the situation.

The experts do not expect this situation to improve significantly in the coming years. Tilman Treber from the Elbe Waterways and Shipping Authority is pessimistic about the maintenance measures; There are no short-term solutions in sight. It is all the more important that the tourism association and other stakeholders discuss the lock times in more detail in order to increase the attractiveness of the waterway.

Digitalization as the key to change

A current water tourism study commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor in collaboration with industry players already outlines visions for the future. A clear focus is on the digitalization of water tourism. Digital booking systems, route suggestions and the use of artificial intelligence to control traffic could provide new impetus to make the sector more attractive show the IHK Neubrandenburg.

The Seenland initiative aims to jointly market the waterways of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Berlin. The plan is to create “points of interest” that will be made visible online. This innovative approach could help attract more visitors and increase the region's tourist attractiveness.

The future of water tourism

Even though water tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania faces challenges, the potential for growth and renewal remains. The waterway from Plau to Dömitz represents an attractive environment for canoe hikers and offers a wealth of opportunities for active leisure activities. Villages such as Plau, Lübz and Dömitz are benefiting from increasing interest, even if traffic is still low but increases in summer River info.

The industry is faced with the challenge of asserting itself in a digitalized future while at the same time preserving the natural beauty that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has to offer. Sustainable, environmentally friendly development could open up new perspectives that revitalize water tourism in the region.