Aiwanger sees a tourism driver in Wiesn - Kaniber wants to strengthen holidays in the country

Created: 08/03/2022, 09:08

By: Leonie Hudelmaier

Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber and Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger talk about their plans for tourism in Bavaria.

© Tobias Hase/dpa

Before the cabinet holidays, Hubert Aiwanger is campaigning for the Wiesn as a tourism sector.

Michaela Kaniber wants to promote vacations in the country.

Munich – Actually, the cabinet vacation should have started yesterday in the Bavarian idyll at Königssee.

But without further ado, the state government ordered the participants of the last press conference to Munich.

The reason: Storms were forecast.

But just as the big shower failed to materialize, the Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), who had actually been announced, also stayed away from the press conference.

Instead, Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (FW), Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) and Construction Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) informed about the latest plans in their departments.

In addition to the five-step plan to save energy, the topic of tourism was also on the agenda, even if the specific decisions remained manageable.

Aiwanger demands: Wiesn, Christmas festivals and Christkindl markets should drive tourism

"Bavarian tourism is beginning to cling to old success figures again," said Aiwanger, referring to the sector hit by the coronavirus.

The Economics Minister particularly emphasized the 600,000 employees and the 30 billion euros added value in the industry.

His direct conclusion to help the sector get back on its feet: the Wiesn should take place.

You have to “offer these highlights” for the local population and also for tourists.

The predominantly mild course of the corona disease would make this possible, said Aiwanger.

Therefore, as a precautionary measure, Christmas celebrations and Christkindl markets should not be questioned, the minister warned towards Berlin.

“We have to celebrate these festivals.

This is right and important, not only for the soul of the people, but also for the economy.”

At the same time, not everything should be designed for tourism - the locals should also benefit from the offers.

"We don't want Ballermann tourism in Bavaria," Aiwanger said.

The plan for this: For example, "further develop or at least preserve" spas and medicinal baths.

Because many thermal baths in Bavaria are heated with gas.

Minister of Agriculture Kaniber wants to promote holidays in the country

In domestic tourism, agriculture comes into play.

"We have 4,000 farms in Bavaria with 50,000 beds," said Minister of Agriculture Kaniber, as she says with pride.

Not only holidays in your own country have become increasingly popular since the pandemic, but also camping holidays.

In order to combine this, Kaniber announced: "From now on there can be up to three parking spaces on farms." The SPD warns that "Bavaria will remain an affordable travel destination for everyone in the future," like Martina Fehlner, the tourism spokeswoman of the SPD parliamentary group, explained.

That is why there should also be funding programs for small tourism businesses.

Far away from holiday matters, the cabinet dealt with the monument protection law.

Monument protection should therefore no longer be an obstacle to climate protection.

For example, Bavaria is giving in when it comes to wind turbines – at least somewhat.

Wind turbines should only require a permit for "monuments that particularly shape the landscape".

That's about 100 buildings across Bavaria.