Usedom groans under tourist printing: locals are looking for solutions!
Usedom groans under tourist printing: locals are looking for solutions!
Did you know that Usedom is not only the sun's richest island in Germany, but also suffers from a tourism stress that reaches the limits of the tolerable? The idyllic island attracts millions of visitors every year, but this rush has its dark sides. Locals have long got used to adapting their everyday life to the tact of tourists. Purchase and visits to the doctor often have to be done outside the high season when the streets, trains and shops are less crowded again. This situation is perceived by those affected, as the residents report, as increasingly stressful. According to [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vormern/overtourism-platz-vorpommern-aus-allen-naehten, overtourism-102.html) the increasing number of guests lead to overloaded roads, crowded trains and acute parking lots.The number of visitors continues to increase - in 2024 around 1.18 million people visited the island, an increase of 8.6 percent compared to the previous year. Along with this development, the pressure on living space has increased. The requested apartments cut the existing living space for the approximately 31,500 locals. This means that the cold rent for a two -room apartment in popular places such as Zinnowitz reaches almost 1,000 euros. Many locals are forced to migrate into neighboring Poland, where the cost of living is lower. Ultimately, this stone's throw brings problems in the daily pendulum routine, as they are dependent on cars in the already overloaded traffic. Even the Watson reports that the arrival of kilometers-long traffic jams occurs, which makes the arrival to the island anything other.
The challenge of the local population
The NGG union raises the alarm and demands a fairer payment beyond the minimum wage in order to attract more specialists for gastronomy and tourism. In many restaurants you can see a shortage of skilled workers, which makes it even more difficult to meet the needs of the many tourists. Companies are often dependent on external trainees to compensate for the lack of personnel. Numerous restaurants have now adapted their opening hours to meet the challenges of the overcrowded market.
In balance between tourism and quality of living, the locals call for regulation in relation to new holiday apartments and hotels. While the state tourism association Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania does not speak directly of overtourism, the mood is clear: the capacities are at the limit. Planned projects, such as the approval of other holiday apartments, arouse the resistance of the residents. For example, a project developer plans to build 44 new apartments in Heringsdorf, which affects critical echo among the mayors. This situation is made more difficult by the fact that the permits for new apartments are often granted by the district and not by the communities themselves, which know the actual needs on site better.
the look into the future
The lively discussion about dealing with mass tourism will become more important in the next few years. A bypass around Wolgast is to be completed in 2028 to defuse the traffic problems, but many residents are wondering whether this is enough to overcome the pressing challenges. In addition, the renovation of the Zecererer Brücke will be an additional burden in the coming years. It can be clearly seen that Usedom needs careful planning and innovative approaches to create a balance between tourist attraction and the quality of life for the residents. A report by the UNWO speaks a clear language: Understanding for the opinion of the residents is crucial for sustainable solutions in tourism.
On July 4, NDR Info will deal live from the pier in Ahlbeck on the topic "Tourism in the north - between boom & stress". The discussion, which once again demands the need to rethink, is more important than ever.
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| Ort | Usedom, Deutschland |
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