Price shock in MV: Schnitzel for over 24 euros – Minister sounds the alarm!

Price shock in MV: Schnitzel for over 24 euros – Minister sounds the alarm!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the price-performance ratio in the catering industry is causing a stir. Recent reports show that prices for simple dishes such as pork schnitzel are high in coastal restaurants. While a schnitzel costs a whopping 24.50 euros in Binz, it costs 24.10 euros in Heringsdorf and 24.20 euros in Kühlungsborn. A price comparison shows that guests in Berchtesgaden only have to pay 19.50 euros and in Niendorf/Baltic Sea 21.50 euros for such a dish. Tourism Minister Wolfgang Blank expresses sharp criticism and asks whether the prices in MV are still in line with the quality of the gastronomic offerings. As the Ostsee-Zeitung reports, guest satisfaction in MV is falling compared to the previous year.

But the problems go beyond high prices: Blank also points to the lack of staff and skyrocketing costs in the catering industry. The average net price for a holiday room in 2024 was 140 euros, which is 27 percent above the level before the corona pandemic and 22.20 euros above the national average. The prices for drinks and other food are also rising: in MV, half a liter of Pils costs around 4.87 euros, while in Saxony it only costs 4.57 euros. A Margherita pizza costs 11.11 euros, which represents an increase of 12.7 percent compared to 2023. The Results of the tourism barometer illustrate the plight: MV has the largest decline in sales in the hospitality industry among the new federal states, while other regions such as Bavaria have more stable economic conditions.

Tourism in transition

But the desire to travel remains unbroken: according to the latest figures Statistics portal Travel patterns in 2024 show that demand at home and abroad is recovering. A total of 85.7 million overnight stays were recorded in the eastern German states - this is the second highest value of all time. Nevertheless, the price-performance ratio in MV remains behind the national average at 70.3 points.

The topics of quality, environmental friendliness and infrastructure will be particularly in focus in 2025. According to the tourism barometer, overall guest satisfaction rose to 87.6 points, which represents a small improvement compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the high prices, combined with the sharp increase in the cost of beef - there was an increase of a whopping 50 percent - are causing additional skepticism among holidaymakers. Lars Schwarz, regional head of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association, explains that the critical economic conditions are also reinforced by legal measures such as minimum wage increases.

Overall, it can be said that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania must develop further in terms of tourism in order to meet the expectations of its guests. The first signs of recovery are visible, but it is clear that there is still a lot to do. A good hand in price and quality will be crucial in order to keep the region highly popular as an attractive destination.