Ban on tourist trips: What is still allowed in Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of government of the states decided on Wednesday to take drastic measures to combat the current rapid spread of the corona virus. In addition to the complete closure of catering and cultural businesses, the measures taken also include a drastic ban on overnight stays for tourists within Germany.

All Corona regulations come into force on Monday, November 2nd. FOCUS Online clarifies the most important questions about travel and tourism.

There is no general travel ban

As tough as the new measures are: Travel has not been banned per se. In Germany there is no general travel ban from November or even an exit restriction as in France. However, travel is no longer desired, so the tenor at the press conference by Merkel and the heads of state of the countries.

Politicians call on citizens in the country to refrain from unnecessary and unnecessary private travel. For example, a ban on tourist overnight stays has been issued, which makes traveling within Germany virtually impossible.

Ban on tourist overnight stays

The Federal Chancellor and Prime Ministers have made a clear regulation here. Overnight tourist trips in hotels, guesthouses or other accommodations banned throughout November. The ban on tourist overnight stays comes into force on November 2nd and applies until the end of the month.

According to the resolution, people are called on to "generally refrain from unnecessary private trips and visits – including from relatives." Accommodation offers in Germany are therefore only available for necessary and expressly not for tourist purposes made available. Necessary purposes can include, for example, business trips with overnight stays.

Hoteliers and guest houses are likely to be hit hard by this ban. Many of them already have their backs against the wall. The hotel and restaurant association Dehoga has described the closure of all catering establishments as "bitter for employees and entrepreneurs". "The ban on all tourist overnight stays is just as bitter," said General Manager Ingrid Hartges to the newspapers of the editorial network in Germany.

Cancellation of already booked stays

Since the hotels and pensions are now not allowed to accommodate tourists due to official orders, travelers do not have to pay if they have booked a stay for the month of November. If a hotelier or holiday home landlord cannot provide the accommodation at all, the guest does not have to pay anything for it under German law, as reported by "Süddeutsche.de". Consumers are then allowed to withdraw from the booking free of charge and claim back any down payments.

Private trips are not permitted

It is somewhat different in contrast to tourist trips with private trips to family members or friends. Here the federal government calls for to refrain from private trips in the coming weeks. However, these are not expressly prohibited.

You can read all the measures adopted by the Corona Summit here.