Tourism in East Germany threatened: AfD election causes cancellations!

Tourism in East Germany threatened: AfD election causes cancellations!

In recent months, political developments in Germany have had a noticeable impact on tourism in East Germany, especially after the AfD's election results in the federal election in February. These party gains have caused some hoteliers and guesthouse operators to worry about their existence. Loud az online Operators in regions such as Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony are reporting a decline in bookings and an increase in cancellations. Anette Riehl, who runs holiday apartments in Wittenberge, speaks of a worrying trend: “Since the beginning of March there have been hardly any new bookings for the summer, only cancellations.” She fears that the region's negative image will deter potential vacationers.

The survey results show that the AfD performed strongly in many constituencies. Especially in Thuringia, where almost 39 percent of voters voted for the AfD, the mayor of Gotha, Knut Kreuch, reported several hotel cancellations. A hiking group from Wuppertal has canceled their trip to the city, which Kreuch finds unfortunate. "It shows that many know little about the East. It is more than just an election result," he explains and plans to convince the group to visit. He sees an urgent need for action to increase the willingness to travel, as the uncertainty of the results has already led to a decline in bookings from the old federal states.

Regional differences and perception

Assessments of the situation in tourism vary greatly depending on the federal state. While concrete cancellations occurred in Thuringia and Saxony, the situation in Saxony-Anhalt remains stable. Lars Schwarz from the German Hotel and Restaurant Association in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania says that there are no measurable declines. The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Tourism Association also describes the connection between election results and travel behavior as marginal. Tobias Woitendorf emphasizes that the positive pre-booking indicators give hope.

But the mood is not untroubled. Some holidaymakers are raising safety concerns due to racism and intolerance in the region. Reinhard Meyer, President of the German Tourism Association, warns of long-term disadvantages in the recruitment of skilled workers and the international perception of Germany as a travel destination. The industry continues to struggle for a cosmopolitan and hospitable image district newspaper.

Tourism despite challenges

Some holiday resorts, such as Heringsdorf on Usedom, are still recording a positive booking situation, while others, such as Sebnitz in Saxon Switzerland, are struggling with cancellations due to racist incidents. While the industry tries to protect its open doors, it remains to be seen how political developments will affect the region's tourist attractiveness in the long term mdr.