Fight against the closures: Gastronomy in Usedom on the brink!

Fight against the closures: Gastronomy in Usedom on the brink!

The impact of rising costs on the catering industry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is obvious: Last year around 300 catering establishments had to close their doors, many of them in rural regions. Krister Hennige, managing director of the “Vineta” hotels and chairman of the Dehoga regional association, sees this development as worrying because it not only leads to a decline in meeting places, but also to a loss of jobs and a cut in regional identity. In addition, industry representatives are showing little optimism about the government's planned reduction in VAT in order to alleviate the problems in the catering industry.

The causes of this scandalous situation are complex: high costs, a lack of skilled workers and a lack of successors are affecting companies. “The free building land is no longer available in the Wolgast/Usedom region,” explains Jan Koplin from Wohnungswirtschafts GmbH. Plans for affordable housing are also stalling as construction prices continue to rise. Funding programs for social housing could offer part of the solution to creating necessary living space, especially for people with low incomes, but a rapid improvement in the situation still seems to be a long way off.

Difficulties in the housing market

The lack of housing is particularly evident in the Zinnowitz community. Here the representatives voted for a major project that provides for 90 subsidized apartments and holiday apartments. As the need for housing grows, criticism of the conversion of apartments for tourist purposes is increasing. However, the project is still pending as it requires approval from numerous authorities and a development plan.

In contrast to the challenges that many companies have to contend with, vehicle master David Keulig in Freest can report positive developments. His “Keules Garage”, which he has been running since 2004, has developed well and is currently being further optimized by expanding social rooms for employees. These special circumstances are encouraging in an environment in which many companies are fighting for survival.

Healthy teeth – a ray of hope in the region

But not everything is gloomy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: one positive aspect is the dental care for children. The “Healthy Teeth from the Start” program is having an impact, as the number of caries in children has fallen significantly compared to 20 years ago. Prof. Christian Splieth from Greifswald University Medicine received the Wrigley Prophylaxis Prize, a recognition for his outstanding work in dental health. This positive development contributes to the well-being of the youngest residents and shows that there are bright spots even in difficult times.