Pensioners should spend winter abroad: "Travelling against Putin is better than freezing because of Putin"

Created: 05/10/2022 05:03

By: Patricia Huber

In order to save gas and heating costs, pensioners should spend the winter in the warm south.

This is what the chairwoman of the travel association VUSR proposes.

They should also be supported by the state.

Iserlohn/Berlin - The cost of energy keeps reaching new record levels.

Many consumers can expect a nasty surprise, especially when it comes to the upcoming heating bill.

In order to give citizens a helping hand, the federal government has decided on an energy relief package.

But while everyone who pays income tax receives an energy price flat rate of 300 euros, pensioners get nothing in most cases.

Pension: Retirees should spend the winter in Turkey, Tunisia or Mallorca

However, so that retirees do not suffer so much from the high costs, a somewhat curious suggestion has now come into play.

Marija Linnhoff, chairwoman of the travel agency association VUSR, suggests that pensioners could spend the winter in the warm south.

In this way they would save on heating costs, she explains to the

.

According to Linnhoff, Turkey, Tunisia or Mallorca would be ideal here.

The only question is: who should pay for it?

Many pensioners are already living at the subsistence level with low income, so a trip lasting several months is hardly imaginable.

To this end, the VUSR chairperson proposes financial support for pensioners.

In her opinion, a long-term holiday allowance could help.

Then the pensioners could spend the winter in the south and would not claim the domestic energy reserves.

Pension: Winter abroad reduces gas consumption in Germany

Linnhoff sees several advantages in this model.

"You kill several birds with one stone: the pensioners would also get grants, we save gas for industry and support holiday destinations.

Because I think Mallorca is still being shaken by the pandemic," she explains to the

.

Going abroad could even address another important problem.

Because Germany wants to become less dependent on Russian gas because of the Ukraine war.

Therefore, savings should be urgently made.

Linnhoff suggests supporting pensioners with around 500 euros.

Her bill: “The starting price for such a trip to Mallorca is currently around 1,300 euros per person.

That's 50 days in a good middle class hotel on Mallorca including half board and flights.

With self-catering, we are currently at 950 euros per person.”

Politicians not convinced: pensions abroad could become a debt trap

But how is this idea received in politics?

Jana Schimke from the CDU has a very clear opinion on this: "The proposal would cost at least 10 billion euros, in addition to record debt, special funds and inflation-related additional expenditure.

It is not quantifiable what would be saved in the end," she told

.

She is also of the opinion that only a few pensioners could afford the double burden of rent at home and vacation - despite support.

Our free business newsletter provides you with all relevant business news on a regular basis.

Click here for registration.

Andreas Pinkwart (FDP) is also quite critical of Linnhoff's idea.

He warns the

that this could result in a loss of purchasing power in Germany.

However, Linnhoff would like the proposal to be examined anyway.

She is certain: "Travelling against Putin is better than freezing because of Putin."