New lobby association for tourism in MV: billion-dollar controversy in the background!

New lobby association for tourism in MV: billion-dollar controversy in the background!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a lot is happening in the field of tourism. The state tourism association will be dissolved on October 1, 2025 and converted into a new, state -owned GmbH. As NDR reported this decision in a press brief Schwerin known. You want to initiate a new era in tourism for the federal state.

The seat of the new tourism company will be in Rostock, where the old association was also based. All employees of the state tourism association can be adopted into the new company without loss. The focus is particularly on ensuring annual financial support of 5.75 million euros through the state, which is intended to form the basis for a stable work of the GmbH. A supervisory board led by Wolfgang Blank will direct the company's fortunes, while an advisory board with industry representatives should support strategic decisions.

background of the restructuring

The conversion of the existing association follows serious accusations that were already loud in February of this year. A courageous step, as Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) underlined in a top conversation in the State Chancellery, since tourism is considered a success story for MV. The allegations concern alleged records and subsidy fraud, against which former managing director Tobias Woitendorf has been investigated since April. He had to vacate his post under pressure from the Ministry of Economic Affairs after a search of the TMV seat in Rostock.

The public prosecutor has now dealt with the case and examined the submitted complaint from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which wanted to uncover discrepancies in settlement. Nordkurier in the past often reports public funds of around six million euros a year, which for many Organizations in the industry was extremely important.

Future visions and new structures

The time of this restructuring is no coincidence. According to the recent critical points in the annual report of the State Audit Office regarding the remuneration and the inaccurate billing of income, the need for action became clear. A seven-point plan for the implementation of the new society is already in the starting blocks and is intended to lay the foundation for a transparent and effective financing of the new GmbH. It is important for the employees that their jobs will be secured.

The association management, which is faced with these changes, has already expressed concerns about the future and suggested to the state government to take appropriate steps. On the other hand, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is criticized by the CDU opposition, which shows self-controlling behavior, while the Greens suspect that the government wants to distract from its own mistakes. Despite all the uncertainties, the industry is optimistic about the coming months and the new opportunities that the tourism company could offer.