Greifswald discussed: Does the bed tax make your vacation more expensive?

Greifswald discussed: Does the bed tax make your vacation more expensive?

in the city of Greifswald, which is located in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, a heated conversation in the citizens regarding the bed tax introduced last year has caused excitement. This tax is currently five percent of the overnight price and was introduced as a measure to finance tourist projects and infrastructure measures. However, the conservative parties vehemently opposed this source of income and called for their abolition.

The main reason for the demand for the abolition of overnight stay tax, which the CDU was brought up in the citizens' meeting on Monday evening, is the high administrative effort associated with the survey for hoteliers. This reasoning indicates that many hotels and guest houses are overwhelmed with the administrative requirements that arise from the tax liability. This could in turn have negative effects on the tourism sector in Greifswald.

Financial effects of bed tax

Although the objective of the tax aims at better financing of tourist offers, the mayor Stefan Fassbinder, who belongs to the Greens, warned of the financial consequences that would bring abolition. He made it clear that the city would have to expect an income loss of around 600,000 euros annually if the bed tax was actually abolished. This could significantly burden the urban budget and endanger important projects that serve the common good.

The coming weeks will be decisive for the Greifswald citizens, since the committees will again deal with the subject of bed tax. The discussions will have to take into account both the economic aspects as well as the administrations of hotels and the promotion of tourism. How the situation develops remains to be seen, especially since the resistance to the tax comes from the economy, while the political parties represent different views in the citizens.

In the next meeting dates, there will probably be further intensive discussions in which both the advantages and the disadvantages of bed tax are discussed. The city is therefore faced with the challenge of finding a balance between the interests of the hoteliers and the financial needs of the urban cash register, as mentioned in a report on this topic. The statements on the arguments on both sides could be crucial for the future handling of the accommodation tax. For more information there is a comprehensive article on www.ndr.de available.