Nobody wants to take responsibility at the Bernbeuren tourist association, now the end is threatening

Created: 04/27/2022, 12:00 p.m

The members of the Bernbeuren Tourist Association followed the annual report of the chairman Josef Wohlfahrt (standing on the left).

However, a new election could not be carried out due to a lack of candidates.

© Zillenbiehler

The situation is the same as it was six years ago: At the annual general meeting of the Bernbeuren Tourism Association, the new elections could not be held because no candidates were found.

Bernbeuren

– Annual General Meeting at the Bernbeuren Tourism Association: Chairman Josef Wohlfahrt briefly discussed the year 2020, which the members had received in a letter, and then provided information about the association’s year 2021. Overnight stays and arrivals had fallen during the pandemic like everywhere else, but “we were surprised it wasn't worse."

It was not easy for landlords to adjust to the constant political changes.

While private hosts counted 12,127 overnight stays in 2019, it was 10,626 in 2020 and 8708 in 2021. The total number of overnight stays including the hotel industry and the rural youth center was 24,432 in 2019, 16,753 in 2020 and 15,309 in 2021.

The accommodation directory was reissued, in which 20 landlords participated.

Numerous projects planned

Wohlfahrt also thanked member Beate Mangold, because together with her, the hiking trail guide for the Feuerstein Gorge and the two Roman circular trails on the Auerberg were redesigned.

Two market stalls were commissioned through the small project funding of the Auerbergland, which were deleted by members of the tourism association on a voluntary basis and are now available to all associations in the village for festivities.

The association is also the project sponsor for two other grants: This year, two changing rooms and larger play equipment including a slide will be purchased at Lake Haslach.

The costs, which are not covered by the grants for all three measures, are borne by the association at around 2700 euros.

Speeders and parking spaces in view

The corona-related overcrowding of the Auerberg was particularly evident in the parking lot situation.

Signs for parking at the Auerberghalle should remedy the situation, and Mayor Karl Schleich also confirmed that a small parking space expansion above the fire pond for around 20 to 25 vehicles is being planned.

This brings relief for normal everyday life, but there will still be disabilities on peak days.

Schleich also announced that intensive talks with the authorities and the state building authority regarding a speed reduction did not lead to a positive result after this wish was expressed at a meeting with the residents and the community also supported this.

Will the tourist office be closed?

Wohlfahrt and his deputy Martin Hinterbrandner also informed the members about the municipality's considerations of closing the tourist office if a local supplier were to settle in the Schnitzerstadel.

The background was a meeting between the association and the municipal council last summer, at which possible steps and the annual deficit of the post office and tourist office were discussed.

The two chairmen criticized the fact that, from their point of view, no possible solutions were sought, no further discussions took place and that it was ignored that even if the office were to be closed, high costs would still be incurred, for example through association fees or the registration system for the municipality.

Wohlfahrt voted “the low esteem sad”.

Former mayor speaks up

Mayor Karl Schleich explained that the operator in the Schnitzerstadel should definitely take over the post office, since the required opening times are given there anyway and the post office accounts for a large part of the deficit.

The head of the town hall apologized that the tourism association had given the impression of a lack of appreciation.

At the time, he asked for patience, since nothing was certain about the wood carver, and so we can only speculate about the situation and the future of the tourist office.

At this point, former mayor Heimo Schmid noted "how important a certified advice center is, also in relation to the title of resort" and that the community and association should get together and not simply give up this long-established award.

With the three employees, both guests and landlords have competent and committed contacts.

Schleich confirmed that the tourism association "makes an important contribution to the village community and the attractiveness of the village".

He expressly thanked them for this.

The two chairmen resign and neither wants to take over

However, that did not change the fact that both Wohlfahrt and Hinterbrandner no longer stood for election for various reasons.

Hinterbrandner explained that the past three years on the board of directors have been great for him, but that he is not a landlord and that unfortunately it has not been possible to turn the tourism association into more than a landlords' association.

A query among the 19 present also did not result in a candidate for the presidency.

Without a chairman, however, it made no sense to fill the other posts.

Therefore, in a few weeks, an extraordinary general meeting will be convened in order, in the best case, to hold new elections, or in the worst case, to dissolve the association with its currently 60 members.

The current board of directors remains in office.

Stairs for the Haslacher See

Together we are now trying to find people who would like to get involved in the association.

You don't necessarily have to be a landlord, because what is done in the village for tourists always benefits the village.

This was also reflected in the final deliberations on what the association would like to do in the near future.

The meeting voted to upgrade the steps for bathers in the Haslacher See, to permanently fortify the Brettlesweg with gravel by closing a gap of around 200 meters after consultation with the owners and possibly to purchase additional seating in the area of ​​the Roman paths.

Catherine Zillenbiehler

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.