Tourism association scandal: subsidy fraud shakes MV!

Tourism association scandal: subsidy fraud shakes MV!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a spring scandal is causing an uproar in the state tourism association. The tourism-friendly pride of the region, shaped by the Baltic Sea, the Lake District as well as Rügen and Usedom, is facing serious accusations. The state government has always attached great importance to the issue of tourism, but in recent months there has been increasing criticism: a lack of workers, wages in the basement and a price-performance ratio that is not convincing. All of this happens behind the scenes of an association that plays a central role in the business life of the coastal region and far beyond. nordkurier.de reports on these chaotic developments.

The uproar began in February 2023, when the Ministry of Economic Affairs filed a complaint. The accusation: irregularities in the billing of funding. Since then, the Schwerin public prosecutor's office has been investigating. Tobias Woitendorf, who was still managing director of the state tourism association at the time, had to vacate his seat. The suspicion of subsidy fraud has now been confirmed and the public prosecutor has requested extensive documents. The LTV has annual funding of almost six million euros available - an amount that also covers personnel costs. This sum will only be granted if the association works reliably and, above all, transparently, which is currently in question. This is also emphasized by ndr.de.

Political reactions and future plans

The political waves are running high. The CDU, Greens and FDP are urgently calling for more transparency and information about the events surrounding the association. The SPD, on the other hand, defends the coalition factions and sees the need for an expert discussion. “We have to clarify what went wrong,” emphasizes the SPD politician. But the critics do not remain idle: Daniel Peters from the CDU speaks of a “systemic silence”, while Paul Timm from the AfD expresses concerns about collusion and backroom dealings.

The association, under the leadership of Birgit Hesse (SPD), has already held discussions with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. But the question remains how this affair will affect Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a tourism location. The concerns of other federal states are great because the reputation of the travel destination is in jeopardy, as was announced in an open letter. Tourism professionals are therefore under pressure to optimize their activities as quickly as possible.

The change at the top

A change is approaching: From October 1st, the tourism association will be converted into MV-Tourismus GmbH, and Peter Kranz, the previous head of state marketing, will head the new company. The opposition has raised concerns about his appointment, which was made without a proper selection process. At this point, real conflicts could break out, because Lars Schwarz, President of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association Dehoga, has already warned of the major challenges that await Kranz and his team.

The future managing director comes at a time when a lot needs to be fixed. No matter how you twist it: the state tourism association has a lot to lose, especially now. And while many are looking forward to the coming developments, the reviews are taking a toll on the idyllic picture that has been painted of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Tourism needs a breath of fresh air and a good hand. What happens next remains to be seen.