AfD electoral success prompts tourist cancellations in Germany
Hoteliers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are concerned that tourists are canceling holiday bookings. They attribute this to the success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the February Bundestag elections.
Owners of tourism businesses in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region, located in northeast Germany, report that tourists are cancelling reservations. They explain that this is due to the strong result of the Alternative for Germany in the Bundestag elections and their discomfort with the party's views.
The Baltic Sea coast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ranks among Germany's top holiday destinations. According to the head of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, reports of guest cancellations from members are coming in daily, as Ostsee Zeitung mentioned.
AfD victory raises tourists' concerns
The success of the AfD, which secured 35% of the votes, has caused concern among tourists. Numerous comments have appeared online about the political climate and sentiments in eastern Germany. Tourists are openly stating that they cannot visit with their dark-skinned partners.
The German Tourism Association (DTV) raised concerns about the federal election results at the ITB international tourism fair. DTV President Reinhard Meyer emphasized that Germany's political situation is under close international scrutiny and called for a strong message to affirm the country’s openness and hospitality.
Although reservation cancellations remain isolated, issues of racism and intolerance still impact the tourism industry. Some callers express safety concerns when booking hotels, with one individual canceling a reservation, stating they no longer feel secure visiting the island of Usedom with their dark-skinned husband.
