Tourism boom in Ralswiek: harbor renovated, but pilots missing!

Tourism boom in Ralswiek: harbor renovated, but pilots missing!

On September 1, 2025, the small town of Ralswiek on Rügen will present itself as a place of opportunities and challenges. River cruise tourism is booming here, but at the same time development is being slowed by various factors. Due to the existing pilotage requirement and the lack of visibility, it could become more difficult to attract the sought-after cruise ships. However, the local government is investing in infrastructure: the pier was renovated for 2.6 million euros to provide welcoming conditions for river cruise companies. But whether Ralswiek can establish itself as a popular destination depends largely on the shipping companies' programs in the coming season, as Ostsee-Zeitung reports.

And where are we in shipping? Around 90 percent of global trade travels via sea routes, which underlines the relevance of airports and ports. In 2024, around 274 million tonnes of goods were transported in Germany, which represents a slight increase compared to 2023, but remains behind the figures from 2011 to 2021. It remains to be seen whether the Suez Canal and the Red Sea will offer more stable transport conditions in the coming year. The international shipping companies, which are caught in a constant evolution, have to adapt to the complex routes and adapt to cooperative structures such as those that have been observed between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd since January, reports Statista.

Mayoral election in Binz: A new wind is blowing

On the same day, Mario Kurowski was sworn in as the new mayor in Binz. Kurowski has clear plans: He wants to tackle busy projects such as building a new fire station, a clubhouse and creating a skate park. He relies on close cooperation with the community and would like to make the community's financial situation transparent. The residents should be involved in the dialogue in order to find joint solutions to the financial challenges that affect the municipality.

Also interesting is the current Romantic Week, which takes place from September 1st to 7th in Binz and is dedicated to the life and work of the important artist Caspar David Friedrich. A colorful program full of art, music and theater awaits visitors and provides distraction in an eventful time. It shows how important culture is in promoting the quality of stay in the region.

Sporting successes and challenges

The Stralsund Triathlon 2025 was held in Stralsund on the same weekend, in which 662 athletes took part. The event is considered a complete success, although some questions have arisen about the scoring - particularly in the women's category. Even though she was the fastest woman, Paula Huth was unable to achieve the desired place because she was ranked in the youth rankings. This raises questions for future events, where better organization and awards ceremony should be considered in the plans for 2026.

In the end, it's not just cultural and sporting highlights that give the region its uniqueness, but also the challenges in the automotive industry. Trader Holger Neu notes that declines in sales and losses in earnings are noticeable due to competition from China. He focuses on training young talent and firmly believes in the future of stationary retail.

Overall, it can be seen that Ralswiek and the surrounding area operate in an area of ​​tension between potential and challenges. It remains to be seen how tourism trends will develop and whether the regional projects will bear fruit.