Enlarge image
Holiday home in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: "We appeal to the federal states to finally take concrete steps to reopen tourism"
Photo:
Jens Büttner / dpa
After six months of banning accommodation, many landlords of holiday apartments and holiday homes complain about the significant effects of the corona crisis - and are calling for relaxation. As shown in a survey published on Wednesday by the German Holiday House Association and the German Tourism Association among landlords, more than half of them (55.1 percent) see their existence threatened. The associations therefore called for the holiday homes to be opened to vaccinated, recovered and tested guests in all regions with an incidence that is stable below 100.
»We appeal to the federal states to finally take concrete steps to reopen tourism.
The uncertainty and lack of prospects must come to an end, «said Göran Holst, chairman of the German holiday home association.
For the online survey on the mood in the industry, in which around 10,000 landlords took part in April, they were asked about general booking trends and the economic situation of their property.
For many, retirement provision is at risk
Every fourth landlord is already considering giving up their property.
For a large part, a lot depends on the rental business: 31.5 percent have invested in a holiday property in order to make provisions for old age, for one in five holiday homes are the main source of income.
The hosts' situation is "dramatic and alarming," said Norbert Kunz from the German Tourism Association.
Private landlords did not receive any Corona aid, but would have to continue to pay loans and maintenance costs.
According to the survey, 91.4 percent feel they have been let down by politics, only 19 percent consider the corona measures to be appropriate.
More than two thirds of the landlords currently receive few or no bookings.
If this continues, there is a risk of the summer season "falling into the water," warned Holst. He hopes that the plans in Lower Saxony will send out a signal, which will provide for the opening of restaurants and hotels under strict conditions from May 10th.
beb / AFP
