On Wednesday, tourist experts are taking to the streets of Germany. Marcel Hoffmann, who runs a travel agency in Otterfing, supports the campaign alliance.
Otterfing - Marcel Hoffmann is quite frank about it: "I'm scared of existence because I don't know how long I can hold out," says the travel agency owner from Otterfing. He did receive state emergency aid of 5,000 euros. But it doesn't last forever. The biggest problem is that you can not calculate. Precisely because nobody knows when this crisis will finally be over.
The corona pandemic is bringing the travel industry to its knees. Today, Wednesday, tourism experts across Germany are protesting on the streets to fight for government bailouts. A demonstration for 40 people is also approved in Munich, not an easy undertaking in Corona times. The participants gather from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Odeonsplatz, equipped with empty suitcases as a sign of protest.
Hoffmann doesn't demonstrate with “because I have to work”. Nevertheless, he joined the campaign alliance "We show face! Save the travel agencies - save the tourism! ”Connected, through which the colleagues are now organizing. Hoffmann has been running the Theo Tours travel agency Hoffmann in Otterfing since 2003, in 2019 he opened a branch in Tegernsee. "I do the travel agencies on my own." He also runs a postal agency at both locations in the same building. The main business is made up of travel agencies. Actually.
But his business has been standing still since March. "Since then, I have not received any commission." These commissions, which they receive from tour operators when they broker a booking, finance small offices like Hoffmann. There are organizers who pay a commission when booking, not just when they leave. Nevertheless, it is currently unclear what you have to refund in the end. "Now I have a lot of work with cancellations." The situation here is often vague. You need a lot of patience. "The organizers' hotlines are tight."
Hoffmann wants funds for travel agencies. "Because we are under acute threat." And the crisis was far from over when the crisis ended. "That throws us back at least two years." It takes time for the normal level to settle. Cheap and luxury trips would start again faster. "But what about the middle class?"