Criticism voiced by the tourism association over the imposed lodging restriction

In a recent appearance on RTL's "Good Morning Germany" show, Dirk Dunkelberg, deputy managing director of the German Tourism Association, voiced his concerns about the accommodation ban decided by most federal states.

Mr. Dunkelberg found it difficult to understand the rationale behind the ban, given the industry's dire situation. He emphasized that the tourism sector is particularly and dramatically affected by the current situation and that the accommodation ban is not a sustainable solution for the industry.

The deputy managing director criticized the lack of uniformity in the accommodation regulations across federal states, noting that there is no real uniformity but rather a patchwork. He also expressed concern about the shifting of the control phase to businesses and actors in the tourism industry, stating that hoteliers and owners of holiday apartments now have to check the information regarding the accommodation ban.

The German Tourism Association has joined Mr. Dunkelberg in his criticism, stating that this situation is unacceptable.

Mr. Dunkelberg did not specify any new details about the financial support he is seeking for the tourism industry. However, he reiterated his demand for further financial support from politics, stating that what the industry urgently needs now are further state bridging aids. He also emphasized that these aids must be tailored to the tourism industry and targeted at hoteliers and owners of holiday apartments.

The primary political actors responsible for allocating further financial aid to the tourism sector are regional governments and ministries in charge of tourism, economy, and finance, such as the Economic Minister or Regional Tourism Ministers (e.g., Mario Gerber, the Tirol Economic and Tourism Minister in Austria). Additionally, federal or state-level institutions involved in managing and promoting tourism funding programs also play a crucial role.

Despite the criticism, Mr. Dunkelberg did not provide any suggestions for alternative measures to the accommodation ban. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks and months.

Criticism voiced by the tourism association over the imposed lodging restriction