- In the video: From minimum wage to parental allowance – the most important changes in 2024
The new year begins with a restriction. The German Locomotive Drivers Union (GdL) can go on permanent strike from January 7th. Then the Christmas peace agreed upon by the railways and the union ends. Possible strike start? January 11th. Duration? Not clear. In a ballot, GdL boss Claus Weselsky received a clear yes to the permanent strike from his members.
FOCUS online advises: Stay flexible. If you have to travel within Germany, it is worth switching to a flight, car or bus. “What is coming now will be stronger, will be longer, will be harder for the customers,” Weselsky now announces in comparison to the previous warning strikes. And there could be several waves of strikes in 2024, because the railway apparently wants to accommodate the union with the wage increase, but the GdL also wants a 35-hour week to relieve the strain on train drivers.
Flights will be more expensive in 2024
Flights will be more expensive from 2024. This is due to the federal budget planning. In view of the tense financial situation, the federal government initially announced that it would introduce a kerosene tax on domestic flights. Since 2006, kerosene used in commercial aviation has been exempt from energy tax. The amount of the kerosene tax is unclear.
Details are not yet known. According to reports, the federal government could also forego these plans and instead increase the ticket tax. Domestic and international flights would be equally affected. Even if the additional expenses, whether due to kerosene or ticket taxes, are in the single-digit euro range, airlines could use the higher taxes to further increase prices.
According to information from FOCUS online and a preliminary draft, connecting flights, private flights and federal government flights are exempt from the tax.
What happens next with the 49 euro ticket?
It is unclear what happens next with the 49 euro ticket. Ten million people in Germany currently use the flat rate subscription for German local transport. Until the very end, the federal and state governments wanted to share the costs. However, it remains to be seen whether the discount ticket will remain, given the federal government’s strained budget situation. The Federal Ministry of Finance had announced that it wanted to save money for regional transport. Specifically, it’s about 350 million euros. The countries are already protesting and see the 49 euro ticket in danger by May 2024 at the latest.
The price for the Germany ticket may be increased in the second quarter of 2024. If the federal government pays less for the Deutschlandticket, in the worst case scenario the state governments and customers will have to make up the difference. In extreme cases, the Germany ticket will even be abolished entirely.
Flight delays are increasing
Lufthansa had originally planned to increase its flight schedule back to pre-Corona levels next year. But these plans are now postponed. CEO Carsten Spohr explained that the company continues to struggle with the shortage of skilled workers and bottlenecks in the production of new aircraft.
“We will adjust the flight plan for 2024 slightly and slightly reduce the originally planned growth,” said Spohr. The staff shortage is particularly serious in Munich. That’s why there are always delays there. The Frankfurt hub is also affected.
More flights, less alcohol: 2024 will be a “Mallorca year”
Anyone who wants to fly to Mallorca will have significantly more options from 2024. Several airlines are starting direct connections to the Balearic island or condensing their flight schedules. So quit Condor to also fly to Mallorca from Basel, Dortmund, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Cologne/Bonn, Münster/Osnabrück and Rostock from 2024. At the same time, Tui wants to keep the flight schedule constant, but not expand it massively.
In summer, holidaymakers can fly to the popular holiday island several times a day from Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Zurich. For holidaymakers this means cheaper flights, but also higher hotel prices. Mallorca therefore remains an expensive place for families. This is also why adults-only offers are booming there. The US market is also looking at the island with interest. There will be a direct connection from Miami from summer.
At the same time, the island continues to take action against drinking tourism. From summer 2024, drinking and advertising alcohol will be banned across the island. So far, the law only applied to some party hotspots on Playa de Palma and certain regions of the capital.
The holiday portal Holidaycheck has now calculated that a family of four (two adults and two children) can expect to pay around 3,700 euros per week for a package holiday to Mallorca in the summer. It’s around 1000 euros cheaper at Easter.
Thailand makes entry easier and reduces costs for tourists
After the corona pandemic, the number of visitors from Europe to Thailand is still low. The government is therefore creating incentives to particularly appeal to German customers. Instead of the previous 30 days, holidaymakers from Europe can now stay in the country for 90 days without a visa. The aim is to attract long-term tourists, who in turn bring foreign currency into the country. In return, nightclubs, bars and dance halls in the hotspots are allowed to stay open until 4 a.m. Previously, there was a night’s rest starting at 2 a.m.
At the same time, there should be no planned entry fee. Holidaymakers should pay up to 300 baht (approx. 8 euros) upon entry. However, it is being discussed that from 2024 every holidaymaker must have taken out international health insurance with coverage of 500,000 baht (around 13,200 euros) per person. In the event of death, it must cover at least one million baht (around 26,400 euros).
Greece increases bed tax
Starting next year, Greece will levy a “climate resilience levy,” which vacationers will pay together with the bed tax from 2024. Hotels, holiday apartments and landlords who provide apartments and houses to private individuals are affected. The money should flow into a kind of natural disaster fund.
The new tax is due per day. In the months from March to October, depending on the rental property, this is between 1.50 euros and ten euros. For ten days, a family must expect additional costs of a maximum of 100 euros. In the winter months of November and February it is between 50 cents and four euros additional.
Venice will introduce entry fees for holidaymakers from 2024
Anyone who wants to visit the old town of Venice from next year may have to pay an entrance fee of five euros. As a test, the city charges this fee on 29 days of the year in order to reduce daytime tourism at certain times. Specifically on the following days: April 25th, April 26th, April 27th, April 28th, April 29th, April 30th, May 1st, May 2nd, May 3rd, May 5th, May 11th, May 12th. May, May 18th, May 19th, May 25th, May 26th, June 8th, June 9th, June 15th, June 16th, June 22nd, June 23rd, June 29th, June 30th, July 6th, July 7th, July 13th and July 14th.
“This is intended to take into account the subtlety and uniqueness of the city,” said a spokesman for the city administration. Holidaymakers should pay the fee online or on site.
The fee can also be checked and paid at Marco Polo Airport, at Santa Lucia train station, at the cruise port terminal, at the entrances to San Giuliano, Piazalle Roma, Fusina, Punta Sabbioni and Chiogga.