Greetsiel: Residents complain about exaggerated tourist rush

Greetsiel: Residents complain about exaggerated tourist rush

The coastal community Krummhörn in Lower Saxony has recently dealt with the growing dissatisfaction of its residents towards the tourists. In the popular village of Greetsiel, known for its fishing boats and picturesque coastal landscape, many residents feel disturbed by the large amounts of visitors.

An online survey carried out for the master's thesis by a student of the Jade University of Wilhelmshaven has captured the mood of the residents. 798 people from 19 different towns of the community were interviewed, with most of these survey participants having their main residence in Krummhörn and were over half of women.

perception of tourism

According to the results of the survey, 91 % of those surveyed like to live in Greetsiel. Over half of the participants have been living in this idyllic region for more than two decades. Nevertheless, the views of tourism are mixed. Around 74 % of the respondents in Greetsiel stated that the number of tourists was too high. This increases in the perception that 59 % of the total respondents find tourists' present annoying, while only 41 % welcome every tourist.

The influence of day tourists is particularly intensive perceived as unpleasant, with 19.4 % of the participants identify them as the most disturbing group. Motorhome tourists (19.1 %) and bus tourists (15.1 %) also contribute to the unrest, which is found, especially in the summer months of June, July and August, when the flow of tourists is the most.

positive aspects of tourism

However, the survey also shows bright spots in the context of sales to generate tourists. The residents recognize the economic advantages, such as creating jobs and the revitalization of the regional economy. Nevertheless, there are concerns that the main professionals of tourism are the restaurateurs and hoteliers, while the costs for rents and real estate are increasing. Such developments make life more expensive for the locals.

In order to reduce the negative effects of tourism, the survey suggests taking measures such as the introduction of a tourism tax or an increased second residence tax. Better public transport and discounts for locals could help improve the relationship between residents and visitors. The views on the future of tourism in the region are therefore strongly mixed, and the citizens of Krummhörn want changes in order to be able to better manage the constantly growing pressure by tourists.

The debate about tourism in Greetsiel and Krummhörn shows how important it is not to lose sight of the needs of the residents, while the tourism industry is taking a permanent place in the region. It remains to be seen which measures are taken to secure the satisfaction and quality of life of the residents in the long term, especially in a region that is so strongly shaped by the natural charm of the North Sea.