Preparing for our getaway!
In a recent development, Federal Education Minister Karin Prien has suggested that the current tourism landscape in Germany requires a solution, hinting at the ongoing disagreement between federal states over granting vacation special treatment to Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
The resistance from some states, primarily driven by concerns about fairness and equal treatment, stems from the perception that this preferential treatment could disadvantage them in terms of tourism marketing, resource allocation, and economic benefits. The issue revolves around the longer vacation period in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg compared to other states, which have rotating terms.
At the heart of the resistance are concerns over unequal benefits that favor Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg due to their established tourism infrastructure and desirable destinations. These include the Bavarian Forest and Baden-Baden spa town. There is also a desire for a more balanced distribution of tourism incentives and a preference for standardized or collective solutions to maintain fairness within the federation.
Federal states resisting special treatment for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg often advocate for developing and promoting unique offerings in their own regions, implementing joint marketing campaigns or federal-level tourism incentives, and encouraging investment in underserved or emerging destinations to reduce regional disparities.
Notably, Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, and Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, have shown no willingness to compromise on the current vacation dates, with Söder stating that the vacation rhythm is "sort of ingrained in the Bavarian DNA."
Meanwhile, NRW demands equal vacation rights for all states, suggesting a compromise in vacation dates. NRW Education Minister Dorothee Feller has proposed a change to allow for a later vacation start in NRW. The SPD opposition in the NRW state parliament supports this demand, while Sven Teuber, Education Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, is open to the initiative from North Rhine-Westphalia.
For Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, State Secretary Tom Scheidung expects a solution that all states can live with to be negotiated by the end of this year. Criticism also comes from Lower Saxony, with a spokesperson for Minister Julia Willie Hamburg finding the current situation unsatisfactory. Saxony's Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens will discuss the holiday regulation from 2030 onwards.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on finding a solution that ensures equitable treatment within Germany’s federal tourism landscape, while also acknowledging the unique offerings of each region. The CDU fraction in the Thuringian state parliament supports the initiative from NRW, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion.
Lifestyle choices may be influenced by the disparities in tourism activities and benefits across the regions, considering the current disagreement over special vacation treatments in Germany. The travel industry could benefit from collective solutions that distribute tourism incentives more equitably, promoting balance and fairness among federal states.
