Tourism on the North Sea: high number of guests, but falling acceptance!

Tourism on the North Sea: high number of guests, but falling acceptance!

Wilhelmshaven, Deutschland - The North Sea remains a popular destination for vacationers, but the acceptance of tourism among the local population shows signs of change. A recent study by the Tourismus-Agency Nordsee GmbH Acceptance sinks. This was recorded as part of a nationwide study on tourism acceptance in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

The acceptance of tourism has been systematically examined since 2019, and the North Sea region in Lower Saxony, including Bremerhaven, has now also been considered. The results of the study show that there is no nationwide acceptance problem. However, a falling trend can be observed: In highly frequented destinations, many residents feel temporary visitor collections as a burden on their quality of life.

insights into the results

The study interviewed 1,017 inhabitants aged 16 and over, using a hybrid method (postal, by phone and online). The majority of respondents see tourism positively and recognize its importance as an economic factor. While general acceptance is above average, differences in the settings are shown: in Schleswig-Holstein, the number of guests is perceived as more problematic. For example, 20 % of Lower Saxony and 25 % of the Schleswig-Holstein guests with a dog and second home owner perceive as "too many". Camping and hotel guests, on the other hand, are often perceived as "too few".

The perspectives to improve the situation are particularly interesting. Many citizens would like more appreciation for employees in the tourism sector as well as current information about planned tourist developments. Restrictive measures such as a limitation of the number of beds, on the other hand, are less considered to be expedient.

overall context

The background of these investigations is part of a larger research project that under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr. Bernd Eisenstein is. This project was launched by a Institute for Tourism Research and is aimed at promoting the acceptance of tourism and thus ensuring the future viability of tourist development. The focus is on how the acceptance of tourism can be improved and which measures are suitable.

in Bavaria, as in another example from the Bavarian study on tourism acceptance, a similar picture shows: Despite a stable economic basis for tourism, there are also angery locals here. Understanding the local population is essential to strengthen the symbiosis between tourism and locals.

Finally, it can be said that the North Sea remains a valuable travel destination for many. At the same time, the concerns and needs of the residents must be taken seriously in order to promote harmonious coexistence. The results of the current studies offer valuable starting points for a sustainable tourism development that includes everyone involved.