Easter holiday: Several federal states stir up hope – one date causes problems

In northern Germany, possible Easter holidays have not yet been ticked off. This is where the resurgence of tourism should begin. Bernd Buchholz (FDP), Economics Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, relies on several pillars. With corona vaccinations, strict hygiene concepts and rapid tests, he wants to "get tourism in the country back on the road to success".

"Bookings will jump up massively"

Demand is still extremely cautious. But he expected "that the bookings will jump up massively," said Buchholz on Wednesday. He is not the first politician in the state to express optimism: Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) also made positive statements about the federal-state consultations last week.

"If the situation does not change dramatically, I assume that we will open hotels in Schleswig-Holstein over Easter," said Günther of the "Rheinische Post" (Monday). "Why shouldn't people be able to be in hotels and holiday apartments at Easter – provided they have a current negative test and are followed up via apps."

In contrast to October, there are now enough rapid tests available. Günther emphasized, "Finding solutions in this area is also a requirement of respect for the industry and the people who work there. In view of the current moderate incidence values, I cannot understand the reluctance to travel within Germany."

Surf tip: You can find all the latest news about the corona pandemic in the FOCUS Online news ticker

When Schleswig-Holstein opens, will Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania follow suit?

If Schleswig-Holstein opens its borders for vacationers, this could also have a signal effect for the neighboring Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Tobias Woitendorf, Managing Director of the State Tourism Association of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, already proposed, together with Schleswig-Holstein, to take an independent north German path in tourism that is accompanied by scientific findings.

Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) also says that she still has the goal of opening hotels and pensions in the country to guests again at Easter. Then the industry should be able to restart.

Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (CDU) is a little more cautious. Even if he could "not yet give a reliable answer", he would be very happy "if an Easter holiday were also possible on our East Frisian Islands with noticeable restrictions," he told the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung". Above all, opening hotels and holiday apartments would come into question.

In doing so, Weil is building on "that by March 22nd we will know much more about what we can also make possible through new test concepts". But it is precisely on this date, on which the next Prime Minister's Conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel is to take place, that there is also a major problem.

Surf tip: You can find all the news about the corona vaccination in the FOCUS Online news ticker

Self-catering holiday apartments, campsites and caravan sites

Less than two weeks later, Easter is already, and the time between federal-state consultations and possible preparations and bookings is short. Thuringia's Environment Minister Anja Siegesmund (Greens) is therefore urging a quicker decision to open the door. She advocates allowing vacation offers with "very low risk of infection with a hygiene concept in good time before Easter". In their opinion, this included self-catering holiday homes, campsites and caravan sites.

Such a decision could not be made at the next federal-state consultations shortly before the start of the vacation. It is unacceptable that such determinations have not yet been made. "In four weeks it will be Easter: instead of making clear vacation appointments, nothing is settled".

Söder warns: "You can't make a serious statement about Easter"

The Mecklenburg Woitendorf also criticizes that "tourism is at the end of the food chain" and that it is left "completely in the rough". Lars Schwarz, President of the National Association of Business Associations, agrees. "A clear perspective has been postponed again," he complains, referring to the previous deliberations of the federal and state governments.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), however, urged caution. "The fact is: You can't make a serious statement about Easter," he said on Friday in the Bavarian state parliament. In his view, both a "relaxed Easter" and a "great Easter lockdown" cannot be ruled out.

Chancellery chief Helge Braun (CDU) was also "very skeptical" about the Easter holiday. Rather, he expects the travel issue to be relaxed later. "I assume that from Pentecost we will be able to talk much more relaxed about travel and leisure," he said last Friday.

More holiday news 2021