East Frisian Islands are struggling with a lack of guests: summer is in danger!

East Frisian Islands are struggling with a lack of guests: summer is in danger!

The East Frisian Islands are facing a special challenge this summer season. On peak summer days, which are normally overflowing with day-trippers, there is a lack of visitors in many places. According to a report by butenunbinnen.de, around half of the passengers on these days are day visitors, but the number of spontaneous bookings this year fell short of expectations. This has implications for the entire region because while ferries are usually full to capacity, many ships remained largely empty this year.

“The situation in summer presents the islands with major challenges,” says Erich Wagner, head of the Dehoga hotel and restaurant association in East Frisia, who points out the negative influence of the weather report on bookings. The city center shops along the coast from Aurich to Oldenburg, on the other hand, recorded positive sales as they were able to benefit from and adapt to the absence of day visitors.

News on the East Frisian Islands

Especially in times like these, it is even more important to offer guests something special. A digital holiday assistant called “Norderney my island assistant” is being introduced in Norderney, which gives visitors an even better overview of what’s on offer on the island. Spiekeroog is thrilled with the reopening of the historic museum horse-drawn railway, which can now run an extended route of 900 meters through the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.

In Norderney there is also a culinary focus: the premiere of the Lower Saxony State Grill Championship took place on May 31st. Here, grill teams from the region were able to demonstrate their skills and secure a chance to win a starting place at the German Grill Championship. Baltrum also has health and wellness offers in its repertoire all year round with its new spa “BaltrumMed by Apelos”.

Events and experiences

The East Frisian Islands are full of life and cultural highlights: Heinz Rudolf Kunze performed on Borkum on June 21st, while Revolverheld will create a great atmosphere on August 8th as part of the Beach Days. Juist celebrated the free music festival “Juistival” at the end of May with a colorful mix of music and street art. Wangerooge is pleased about the new podcast “Inselliebe”, which tells stories about island life and is available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In addition, Langeoog offers flexible online pre-ordering for ferry tickets, which makes traveling to the islands even easier. Operators of the ferries between Norderney and the mainland have also introduced a new tariff structure for car transport since May 1, 2025, making visits easier for drivers.

Despite the challenges, the East Frisian Islands also have many positive aspects to offer. Families who want a break or want to bring their dog with them will find numerous holiday apartments and overnight accommodations. Everyone will find what they are looking for here, be it relaxation in nature or an active holiday with very special experiences.

Despite the shy desire to travel this summer, there is still hope that the East Frisian Islands can attract more people again with their beauty and news. Cuxhaven and Wilhelmshaven could even become the new contact point for activities on the North Sea, as inf-inet.com notes. It remains to be seen how the season will develop.

Find out about the latest developments and offers on the websites of butenunbinnen.de, about-travel.com and inf-inet.com to get the best tips and tricks for your visit to the island.