Tourism - Union looks concerned at tense housing market
Payable housing for workers is becoming an increasing problem in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern tourism regions, according to Jörg Dahms, the regional manager of the Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG) food and hospitality union, speaking to the German Press Agency. "It's almost impossible to pay rent in many places," Dahms said. The situation has worsened particularly in areas like Usedom and the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula.
Some jobs in Tourism are only paid minimum wage, making the search for housing more difficult. "As a minimum wage earner, you can't afford it," he demands higher wages to better offset high rents. Approximately 56,000 people are employed in the tourism sector in the northeast.
Inflation has worsened the problem for the union:
When planning construction projects, not only hotels or vacation homes need to be considered, but also the people who live there. "The islands depend on the workers," Dahms says. He sees the development of the past few years with concern, as the high inflation has significantly worsened the problem.
Tobias Woitendorf from the regional tourism association says that the situation regarding affordable housing has not improved. Housing shortage is a disadvantage in competition. He emphasized, for example, that municipalities should be asked to ensure that there are sufficient affordable housing units in construction projects. "There is no need for capacity expansion in vacation homes."
A survey among residents in MV last year revealed that the housing situation is considered a problem in some places – on Usedom, Rügen, the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, and in Rostock. It comes down to a triad of affordable, available, and attractive housing, the association head demands.
More money for social housing in MV
A spokesperson for the Building Ministry in Schwerin referred to several programs of the state to ensure affordable housing. For instance, federal and state funds for social housing have increased, with a total of 114 million Euros available this year, compared to 78 million Euros the previous year.
Additionally, the state government passed a guideline in 2020 with a total funding volume of five million Euros for the creation of employee housing in tourism focus communities. By the end of 2023, a significant portion of this funding should be allocated.
- Jörg Dahms, the regional manager of the Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG) food and hospitality union, highlighted the issue of paying rent for workers in the housing market of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's tourism regions.
- Dahms pointed out that many jobs within the tourism sector are only paid minimum wage, making finding affordable housing even more challenging for workers.
- Dahms expressed concern over the situation in areas like Usedom and the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, as inflation has significantly worsened the problem of affordable housing for workers.
- Tobias Woitendorf from the regional tourism association agreed that the situation regarding affordable housing has not improved, stating that housing shortage is a disadvantage in competition.
- Woitendorf suggested that municipalities should ensure sufficient affordable housing units in construction projects, emphasizing the need for a triad of affordable, available, and attractive housing.
- In response to the housing issue in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Building Ministry in Schwerin announced several programs to ensure affordable housing, including an increase in federal and state funds for social housing and a guideline for the creation of employee housing in tourism focus communities.
