Usedom at the limit: grief with overtourism and congestion problems!

Usedom at the limit: grief with overtourism and congestion problems!

Usedom, Deutschland - Usedom, the sunny pearl of the Baltic Sea, has become rapidly the most sought -after holiday destination in northeastern Germany in recent years. According to NDR Visit the second largest island every year with over six million overnight stays last year-a plus of four Percent. But this tourism boom not only brings joy, but also some huge challenges.

Every year the number of guests has grown, and since 2000 by more than 72 percent. The Heringsdorf seaside resort is the absolute favorite among the holidaymakers. But these high number of visitors have their dark sides: crowded roads, parking problems and growing environmental pollution, such as water shortages, are everyday companions. The state tourism association emphasizes that Usedom operates on its capacity limit and overtourism is not an acute problem, but the situation is tense and the challenges are enormous.

fight against overtourism

The term overtourism describes the excessive number of visitors that affect both the quality of life of the locals and the experiences of the travelers. This is shown by traffic jams and parking shortages, especially in the high season. With up to 15,000 vehicles on the B111, the transport network is significantly stressed. In order to strengthen local public transport, it is important to better use the existing rail and ferry connections.

The regional railway line RB 23 connects Züssow with świnoujście, while the regional railway 24 between Peenemünde and Zinnowitz is often overcrowded. A new ferry connection via the Szczecin Haff is intended to commute between Neuwarp, Swinemünde and Szczecin on weekends to better distribute the arriving. In some municipalities, trips with the Usedom Bäderbahn (UBB) even contain the spa cards to relieve traffic.

But these are just a few approaches to improve the situation. Four master students from HafenCity University Hamburg are currently carrying out an online survey among the inhabitants in order to analyze the effects of tourism in more detail and to develop an integrated catalog of measures. According to the first results, there is a strong need for the residents to be involved in the plans to cope with the challenges of tourism, as

new strategies are required

The tourism industry is under pressure to find innovative solutions for the increasing challenges. According to a survey by the Quality Travel Alliance, 42 % of travel professionals expect growing awareness of overtourism among travelers. There are already some suggestions for reducing the problem: visitor limits, digital reservation systems and a better steering of tourist flows could help to equalize the overcrowded attractions. Association office gives numerous examples from popular tourist destinations that have successfully implemented similar measures

Overall, it can be hoped that Usedom can find the right balance between tourism and quality of life for its inhabitants. Because one thing is clear: the beauty and variety of this island are a valuable asset that needs to be preserved.