Protests at Rainbow Camping: Long-term campers fight for their homes!

Protests at Rainbow Camping: Long-term campers fight for their homes!

Violent protests broke out in the idyllic nature of the Rainbow campsite near Prerow. The reason for this is the massive cancellations of all permanent campsites, which are driving the affected campers to the barricades. This reaction didn't last long - an online petition was launched with the aim of preventing the closure of areas I, G and H. Within just a few days, thousands of supporters have already joined in to fight for the preservation of their beloved retreats, such as Uckermark courier reported.

The terminations were announced at the end of September, without much notice, which made the campers particularly angry. The users of Area I have to vacate their places by December 31, 2022, while Area G will be reduced by around half. Up to 400 of the original 1,200 parking spaces will be eliminated. Only 800 parking spaces will be retained permanently.

A second home in danger

For many long-term campers, some of whom have been living there since the 1960s, the campsite is not just a place to relax, but rather a second home. Pensioners in particular, who spend a large part of the year in Prerow, feel let down by Regenbogen AG. They see the layoffs as a hard cut in their lives, especially since they only found out about the drastic decision a few weeks ago.

Bjørn Schwake, executive chairman of the Environment and Nature Conservation Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Foundation, points out that the closures were decided as part of environmental protection measures. However, many campers are skeptical about the foundation's arguments. They claim that their activities do not have a negative impact on nature and advocate finding alternative solutions to reduce environmental damage, as stated in a report by change.org summarized.

Economic consequences of the closures

The closures are not only perceived as an emotional loss, but also have a significant economic impact on the region. According to the Uckermark-Kurier, the closure of Area I alone would mean a loss of over 11,000 euros for the local economy. Campers are concerned that this could harm the overall tourism development of the area.

Some campers have already provisionally parked their caravans on the site, while others are quickly looking for alternatives or even thinking about withdrawing from camping. Patrick Voßhall from Regenbogen AG is trying to calm the mood by offering discounts on pitch fees in the first year for those affected who move to other campsites, but many remain skeptical.

The situation remains tense and those affected are hoping for talks with those responsible. The Citizens for Western Pomerania-Rügen/Free Voters faction has already called for a round of discussions to be held with all those involved, moderated by District Administrator Stefan Kerth. Dialogue is now more important than ever to take into account both the interests of campers and environmental goals.

It remains to be seen how these disputes will develop further. Many long-term campers are currently expressing their worries and fears via the online petition and hope that their “second home” will remain. This shows once again how closely economic aspects and personal fates are intertwined, which makes the need for dialogue all the more urgent.