Depressing emptiness: The East Frisian Islands were recently deserted as the residents do not even know from the winter months. Now the tourists are returning. But the lightness of days past is missing.
Spiekeroog (dpa) - The suitcases roll over the dike again - after weeks of being closed due to the corona pandemic, the first holiday guests have returned to the East Frisian Islands. Among them Stephanie Warnecke, who travels from North Rhine-Westphalia to Spiekeroog several times a year.
"Here the children can play on the sand. At home there is a bit of a disaster, my son shouldn't be able to go to kindergarten," says the 39-year-old. When her family found out that she was allowed to stay in a holiday apartment again last Monday, she called the landlord directly. "It feels strange: wearing a face mask, restaurants only half staffed. But in Cologne it's much worse - everything is more distant here, feels safer."
In shops, partly in the catering trade and also on ferries, mouth protection is mandatory. The shipping company Norden-Frisia has a security guard on board for many trips to Norderney. "Some passengers are somewhat inconsiderate," said spokesman Fred Meyer. A couple who wanted to go to Spiekeroog were stopped on Saturday by the inspector: "You have to stay at least until the 23rd." Seven nights are currently a prerequisite for the arrival, there are also restrictions for the other islands. The couple wants to extend the vacation by one day and increases.
On Saturday, more than 400 people ferried, mostly with backpacks, suitcases and packed wagons. "The joy of vacation is now twice as big, because until recently you didn't even know if it would work," says Jovana Stahnke, who sits on board with the family from Gütersloh. Her husband Heiko looks forward to taking off the mask on arrival and being able to move freely on the rather empty island.
The few beach chairs that are already standing are all occupied at lunchtime. While the sun breaks through again and again, strollers unpack their snacks, children dig in the sand and some venture into the cool North Sea. The beach would actually be fully built in mid-May, but Spiekeroog is still in the middle of the season preparations. "We didn't know what to do next," explains Mayor Matthias Piszczan (CDU). One was surprised by the permission for holiday apartments.
Unlike on the mainland, where plots are sometimes staked out, no special measures are planned at Spiekerooger Strand. It is likely that not all of the 650 beach chairs will be set up to allow greater distances. On the larger island of Norderney, people think about running guidance systems on the beach, and the majority of the beach chairs are not there either.
"The first guests are there and are slowly recapturing the island," says Borkum Göran Sell, managing director of the tourism company of the largest East Frisian island. "If ships with 500 guests arrive now, with over 20,000 guest beds, that's not a lot." According to Sell, the slow start is good. "Because of course we also have to practice in many areas: How are you?" At Pentecost, when the Lower Saxony state government plans to open hotels, guesthouses and youth hostels with restrictions for tourists again, the islands expect the right rush.
"The high season is going to be difficult. That can only work if the consumers get involved," says Hauke Voskamp, who works in the café of the Spiekeroog bakery Backdeck. This week, however, the guests were very insightful, adhered to the mask requirement and filled out the contact form, which is used to track infections in an emergency.
In the restaurant Givtbude the phone rings constantly - in addition to pizza orders, now also for reservations. "It's a slow start," says owner Jan Kölschtzky. He had to cut tables. Black and yellow markings are stuck on the way to the restaurant, and signs indicate the distance rules. "Especially in gastronomy, the lightness of being is missing - and will be missing for a long time to come."
If you listen to island shops, the joy of the return of the tourists is greater than the fear of Sars-Cov-2. But it is uncertain whether all companies can compensate for the losses primarily due to the break-up of Easter business. "I think we may have a third less sales in 2020," said Mayor Piszczan. "Always provided that there is no next shutdown." If he hits the islands during the main holiday season in the summer, he is concerned, the police may have to move in if some guests do not want to leave voluntarily.
Spiekeroog to Corona
Borkum to the corona virus
Norderney to Corona
