In terms of health resort tax, Bad Wiessee caused a big bang in 2019.
The municipality single-handedly increased it from two to 3.30 euros.
Now the other places want to follow suit.
We recommend increasing the resort fee from two to three euros.
The decision is made by the municipal councils.
The increase should flow into digitization.
Tegernseer Tal -
In Gmund, the discussion about the spa tax is on the agenda at the meeting on Tuesday, September 15.
The municipal council decides on the fundamental question: Should the municipality increase the fee that is due per guest and night?
There have already been many conversations in the background.
The trigger was the decision of the Bad Wiessee municipality in February 2019 to break away from the valley-wide uniform rate of two euros.
As reported, Robert Huber (SPD), as the representative of the then mayor Peter Höß (FWG), pushed through an increase in the resort fee of 1.30 euros in the municipal council with 8: 6 votes.
Huber justified the move with a million dollar shortfall in coverage for spa facilities and the costs for the bathing park.
Going it alone not only offended the representatives of the neighboring communities, but also the local spa and tourist association.
The Wiesse hosts were caught off guard by the - not agreed with - increase in the visitor's tax.
Applications by the CSU Bad Wiessee to reverse the decision were unsuccessful (we reported).
The new statutes came into force in December 2019.
Too cheap as a region: the tourist tax should rise to three euros
At this point it was already clear that the visitor's tax should also increase in the other places around the Tegernsee.
"We are too cheap compared to other regions," says Christian Kausch, Managing Director of Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH (TTT).
Behind the scenes he had discussed the further course with the TTT shareholders, i.e. the valley mayors.
The group agreed on a joint increase in the spa tax to three euros.
The new statutes will only apply from May 1, 2021.
This is just a recommendation for now.
The decision on the increase and the rate lies with the respective municipal councils.
The topic will soon be on the agenda not only in Gmund, but also in Tegernsee, Rottach-Egern and Kreuth.
It remains to be seen whether Bad Wiessee will also touch the resort fee again.
Because if the other places opted for a fee of three euros, Bad Wiessee would still be more expensive, even if only 30 cents per day.
“I consider a common path to be important,” says Christian Kausch.
The Tegernsee valley is marketed as a region and is perceived as such by guests.
"It is difficult to understand why another resort fee applies 500 meters further."
Actually, the topic of the tourist tax should have been discussed in spring 2020.
But then the corona crisis overwhelmed everything.
Now Kausch sees the time has come.
The resort fee does not charge the hosts.
"You can see it detached from the crisis," said the tourism boss.
Additional money is intended to advance digitization
The additional money will flow back into tourism funding.
“We need it to drive digitization forward,” explains Kausch.
There are many wishes behind the catchphrase.
The offers at Tegernsee should be easier to find via Google, and all digital services should be improved.
“There is a long wish list,” explains Kausch.
A lot has already happened in the background in terms of digitization.
“The fact that the booking situation is currently so good doesn't come by itself,” notes Kausch.
The TTT involved the Rottacher tourist office as a representative of the hosts in the talks about raising the visitor's tax.
An information event on the topic is scheduled for the landlords.
"If the whole thing is properly explained and we get a clean equivalent, then it's okay," says Josef Bogner, chairman of the tourist office.
As a district councilor, however, Bogner notes, he is amazed that in addition to the ATS, which is responsible for the entire district, the TTT also needs so much money for digitization: “That is doubly mocked and the guest has to answer for it. “The decision would ultimately have to be made by the local council, said Bogner.
The tourist office feels it is positive that they have been involved and will not oppose the increase: "In comparable regions, at least as much or more is required."